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What Makes Business People Succeed?

Guest post by: Hal Pitt

Article Overview: It doesn't take a rocket scientist to learn what makes business people succeed. It just takes a willingness to listen to what our grandparents have been telling us for centuries.

What Makes Business People Succeed?

What makes business people succeed?

Is it their competence at the job? Competence is important if we are to gain credibility in the eyes of those we lead, but it’s not the primary reason why business people succeed.

Is it having a vision for the business? Vision is extremely important if we are going to inspire others to follow us, but it’s not the primary reason why business people succeed.

Or is it having a good work ethic? Working hard for one’s goals and dreams is important, but it’s not the primary reason why business people succeed.

If competence at the job, having a vision, or working hard for success aren’t the answer as what makes business people succeed, what is?

The answer is simple. Our grandmothers and grandfathers have given us the answer for centuries. It’s not rocket science. The answer can be found in their words of wisdom:

“Kill them with kindness.”

As a leadership consultant and trainer, I’ve had the privilege to talk with thousands of business people around the world. I am always getting into conversations about their managers and leaders where they work. And it there is one defining characteristic as to why they are willing to commit to and follow their leaders, it is because they have leaders who make them feel special and appreciated.

Warren Buffet gives us his secret to business success when he tells us to be kind to everyone.

Dale Carnegie tell us in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, that the most powerful influence strategy in the world is to simply make other people feel important.

Will Rogers once said, “In all of my life I’ve never discovered a better way of communicating than to make the other person feel important.”

Robert Cialdini, persuasion expert, tell us that people generally follow and are persuaded by people they like. If our customers don’t like our service and our associates don’t like our leadership, we won’t be in business for long.

A business is only as good as the number of customers it has to buy its products and services. And the only way we are going to create and retain customers is by making them feel special and attending to their needs. We can have the best products in the world, but if our customer service is lacking, we will fail.

A business is also only as good as its leadership. If management doesn’t care for its associate’s welfare and are unkind and disrespectful, the consequences can be dire. Morale will plummet, productivity will decrease, and people will leave. Did you know that the number one reason people quit their jobs is because they perceive they have a lousy boss? We don’t want people quitting an organization because of our lack of respect or kindness towards them.

If you want to succeed in business, make sure you and your associates are consistently kind and courteous towards your customers and take the time to go out of your way to make your associates feel like a million bucks.

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