Take The High Road - Avoid Shady Partners

In this episode, we share a story that shows us to take the high road.  It is a road less traveled but one worth the effort.  While shortcuts and quick fixes are often mistakes, shadowy paths can also be far more costly than expected.  There is far more at stake than a single goal.  Our reputation and its impact on our future must also be considered.

The error of this episode comes from a partner who (unwittingly) shifted his hard work to me.  While it is not a mistake I made, it is one that I witnessed and shows us consequences.  I gained a client for years that only came through his foolish approach to business and trust.  This story also points to how we approach the delivery of bad news.  Sometimes we over-think the situation, hedge our message, or try to hide it.  In the end, it is often much better to deliver the news directly and clearly.  When we water it down, we show a lack of trust in the recipient.  Thus, we start in a weak position for good communication.

When we have two paths to take, take the high road.  Honesty and clarity will win out over deception and trickery.  The best client relationships are partners; we cannot have that without trust.  They trusted us enough to hire us in the first place. So why would they suddenly bail out on that trust over disappointing news?  Even if our mistake led to the bad news, it is better to lay things out clearly and avoid getting stuck in a web of deceit.

If you like this season, you will probably like Scott Adams' book, "How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life."