Playing Santa Claus

When you think of Santa Claus, what words come to mind?

Jolly, fat, gifts, fairytale, impossible, etc.

Notice the kinds of words that didn't come to mind:
Respect, trust, real, admire, etc.

If we're to have a grown-up, mutually positive relationship with our customers, suppliers or employees, we need to realize that playing Santa Claus may feel good temporarily, but it isn't the foundation of a long-term, healthy relationship.

Whether it be with customers or employees, we need to be real, honest, open and vulnerable. If all we say are the nice things or if all we do is give away our work, ideas or product in an effort to be liked, it will backfire on us.

Santa is nice , but we all know he's not real.

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com