When your small business is feeling growing pains put a little “ally” on it!
Don’t throw away a possible earning potential because you can’t handle the job or you don’t have the personnel to put on the job. You may lose a great customer to another if you don’t do the job.
Create a network of other like businesses that would be willing to share the load or even do the job for you under your company name allowing you to maintain a business relationship with the customer.
Respect and trust are earned. Be the first to do something for another business or offer to help with a particular job. Don’t become greedy and worry about what your earning just focus on building a honest, trustworthy working relationship with others.
There are many who may think it’s a bad idea to involve the “competition” and in some cases they are correct. These type of relationships take time to develop and can go sour quickly.
Once you establish a trusting circle of allies make sure you keep in contact with them. Offer to help them if they speak of a job they have.
People tend to be guarded so don’t expect an instant warm welcome or instant bond. Any relationship needs nurturing and willingness to give and take. I have met many many takers who have taken advantage of my kindness. Hey, it is what it is and just learn and move forward.
Sometimes a person may have more knowledge about a product than you, how to repair or install it. Instead of turning the customer away, use your ally and both of you win. You learn and have help, they earn profit on your call. Win/win.
If your the type to keep records of everything you have done for another or make hash marks on the wall of what you’ve done and expect an exact return on your investment. Please look at this as a commitment for the future and how you can benefit from such a relationship. It will never be a tit for a tat or equal. This is a working relationship that balances throughout the years.
Today, I had a very large job that I knew would take all day to do. My buddy knows a bit about Locksmithing ,so I purchased a uniform for him to wear when he helps us and he did today. My great customers at John Bowman Chevrolet called me with an urgent need to rekey the dealership. I called another Locksmith “ally” AAA Locksmith Matt and asked him to do the job. He will charge me what he needs to and no matter what it is, I still kept my great customer very happy as well as kept them from wandering to another Locksmith. I called Rhonda at the dealership and told her that Matt would be on his way and she was very appreciative. Win/win.