BPD Basics: Reverence for Relationships
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “If you want to be great and successful, choose people who are great and successful and walk side by side with them.”
BPD’s most important asset is our relationships. We believe in aligning ourselves with the best. Once we establish the right partnerships, we make them our number one priority; after all, business is built upon the foundation of relationships. That’s why this value is BPD Basic #2:
Make decisions that reflect a reverence for long-term relationships.
Think about your relationships for a moment. They may be with your significant other, parent, sibling or friend. What do you do in order to help these relationships flourish? Maybe you go out of the way to ensure these people’s happiness; you know what they like, and more importantly, what they don’t like. You’re probably honest with them even if they don’t want to hear it. You make them feel valued and heard. Now think about your business relationships. What are the key factors that enable them to be successful? Most likely you’re thinking of similar traits (with an added layer of professionalism, of course).
In Making Relationships Work, Diane Coutu states, “Within organizations, people have to see each other as human beings or there will be no social glue.” BPDers embrace our Basic #2 (or social glue) by creating a culture based on caring. Asking how someone’s weekend was or inquiring about events outside of work works wonders in building a stronger connection. By mindfully observing honesty, respect and communication, we commit to healthy relationships. We don’t expect them to be one and the same and do our best to tackle the differences that arise.
There will always be ups and downs, and for that we always respond with a little give and take. By syncing with each other and our clients, we hope to build solid foundations that lead to successful long-term relationships.
Sarah Brown
Jeff Goldman is an Associate Creative Director at Brown Parker & DeMarinis with a 20-year track record of success covering most aspects of business communications, driving sales and consistently winning an array of coveted industry awards for clients as diverse as healthcare providers, tech properties and leading beer brands. He has worked all over North America as a writer, a creative director and as a principle in his own marketing agency for brands such as AOL, Exxon Chemical, Goodyear, Jiffy Lube, KFC, LexisNexis, Microsoft, Miller Lite, Northern Arizona Healthcare, the Seton Healthcare Family, Southwest Airlines, Taco Bell, the Walt Disney Company and many more.