Business Relationships -

Treat People The Way You Want to be Treated 

Chris DeVincentis

Do you like to be sold?  Like a hard sell? 

I’m guessing your answer is No and No.

Let’s be serious. These days no one does.  It’s 2009 and people are on guard.  We’re bombarded daily with phones, cell phones, emails, texts…you name it.

The only approach to people that worked 50 years ago and still works today is to use the “Golden Rule”.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been contacted about a new business only have that person begin the conversation by spouting off everything wonderful about their business.  The comp plan, the products, the management, the ground floor positioning….yada, yada, yada.  Funny thing is that they never even inquired as to me, where I’m at, what businesses I’m pursing, my commitments to family and all of that “trivial” stuff.  I mean…c’mon.  Are you kidding me?  Has that happened to you?  Have you done it to someone else?  Come on now, be honest? 

We’ve all done it at one time or another in our learning process.  I’ve known people that have gotten into a business and they’re so excited they told everyone, but when questioned about their business…they hadn’t spent an ounce of time learning about it to give competent answers.  Hey, it happens!  People are people and emotions can run wild, but never forget….this is a business.  Treat it like one.

So what do you do?  You build business relationships.  You find out about the other person.  Where do they live? What’s it like there? Do they have a family?  What have they done in the past?  What are their strengths and weaknesses?  Why are they looking for a business?  What will a business do for their lives?  How will more money change their lives?

Here’s the brilliance in what is called “conversational sponsoring”.  (We have a separate article about it on our website.) While you’re taking an interest in them, you’re building trust and confidence.  You’re showing you care.  Important for you is that you’re taking notes so that on a follow up contact, you can immediately relate to all you’ve learned and you’re instantly a friend, instead of a stranger….or god forbid “a salesperson”.

Now imagine what happens if or when that person joins you in your business.  Do you think it’s a big leap to build a TEAM around those kinds of relationships.  It also allows you as a leader, to know what motivates others so you can lift them up as leaders as well.

It’s an unbelievable win-win situation that will serve you well and more importantly, it will serve your future team in the most positive and cohesive way possible to build and fuel your organization in a way you may never have imagined.

FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE!