Honey attracts more flies
The client – supplier relationship has changed. The old paradigm of the master/servant relationship that sees the client hold all the strings, has gone to where it belongs, the rubbish. Where once it might have been OK (or more normal) to have tantrums, raise voices and threaten sacking the client on a whim, are now just viewed with annoyance, pity and then anger.
Why anyone would think that treating people working on a creative project with no respect, with superstition or malevolent behaviour is a good idea doesn’t know how to manage people, get great work, loyalty or even good will.
The best way to get a tick-a-box approach to your work is to treat people like they are dispensable.
Staff are more important than clients. Sorry clients, but it is true. A staff member invests their career with you, creates friendships, and is geared up for an experience that can be life changing, career developing and personally satisfying. The complex and multi-layered relationship between employer/manager/owner and employee is a two-way street of trust, honesty, with a strong dose of a leap of faith. It takes time to nurture, to get to know each other and to gel as a team.
A client, although you might have a contract, can, as we all know, just get up and walk away. Usually inspired by new staff, new MD, change of mind, budget being stolen or one hundred other reasons that has nothing to do with the quality of work that you do. So, unless you’re a big company, are you really going to pursue a legal path? Sorry lawyers, but your contracts mean diddly-squat in the real world.
So that is why, people who are worth working for will always choose a staff member over a client. I have, I do and I always will. Because that social contract (and employment contract) I made is more valuable to me as a boss, business owner and person.
So let’s just be honest with each other; celebrate the work when it’s good, talk constructively when it isn’t, ask questions fairly, give the benefit of the doubt and have faith that we are in this with you. Because honey is better than vinegar for attracting flies – and inspiring great work.
