In the past few weeks I met two people who work for different industrial design firms. If I had not met them and instead only viewed their backgrounds on paper, they would have looked comparable. Although their work experience and passion for their work are important similarities, they are vastly different professionals.

 

One likes long-term projects, those where she becomes a virtual team member of the client. The other likes short-term projects, because he gets bored and likes to move onto the next thing before boredom sets in. One was more laid back and introverted, and the other was excited about working all day and attending networking and industry events at night.

 

Isn't it great that there's something for everyone?

 

This is relevant to your business because a service provider's written credentials (whether a web site or a brochure) only represent the starting point. You need to get a much more robust sense of the actual people who will work with you.

 

People talk about the need for good chemistry. Yes, that's important, but even more important is an alignment of values.

 

This is especially important if the person doing the selling isn't the one delivering the service. No matter how personable the salesperson is, if the person delivering the service doesn't view the world in the same way, then it's a bad fit.

 

Think of hiring a service professional as a foundational building block: How will the service-provider contribute to your business, and what can you do to build from that base?

 

Have a great week! 

 

 

Copyright 2009 Lisa M. Aldisert

 

 

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Our goal is to provide you with timely tips so that you can more effectively run your business. We know you have a ton of mail in your inbox, so we're committed to brevity and practicality.

 

 

There is a fine line between allowing for consensus and getting bogged down in it. If you tend towards consensus, you need to know how to steer your team to make a decision. 

 

 

You can feel very energized from having a full schedule from one day to the next. Even the most outgoing extroverts, however, need to know when to step back and regroup. 

 

 

Want to live where the money will be in the post-recession era? Read about the next urban "youth magnets" as reported this week.

 

 

 

 

Julia E. Rosenbaum