“his remarks were like a kiss of death.”
by ed mendlowitz
call me before you do anything: the art of accounting
early on, my boss took me to a client i was to work on. he started to explain what needed to be done and what the client did, but then he said, “i hate this client – everything is always messed up and nothing ever makes sense.”
more: when to keep some plans to yourself | the art of the deal: starts with listening | working for a jerk | the ‘wrong’ cpe | be a sounding board to your clients | make obsessed leadership work for you
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.
he also told me my work area was in the factory. i would probably have to move a chair next to a carton that would serve as a desk, and he warned me the lighting wasn’t too good.
his remarks were like a kiss of death. for the next five or six months, i dreaded going to the client, always thinking how messed up they were and nothing ever made sense. then it dawned on me that i was the person doing the work, and things were in order. the carton i worked on was a few feet from where the client packed his shipments. when he did, he always chatted with me about his business, customers, employees and pricing strategies.
he also told me things he liked to do, such as going to the opera (which i did too) and vacations he took or would like to take. the client also would buy me a sandwich to have lunch with him. i got very friendly with him. and then i asked myself why i dreaded going there. i loved working there! it became my favorite client i eagerly looked forward to visiting.
my boss’s idle remark prejudiced me against the client, and it took me months to get over it.
the takeaway for me was that when i became a boss, i only said great things about a client, influencing the staff to like the client and eagerly look forward to working with them. negative remarks about a client never left my lips! actually, negative remarks were never applicable – my clients are all great!
one response to “my boss hated the client”
eva rosenberg
that’s an excellent point.
if i have anything negative to say about a client – they won’t be a client.
my staff doesn’t need to be subjected to anyone who doesn’t treat them (and me) well – and who doesn’t cooperate.
so what am i left with? like you, ed, clients we love.