I recently read  Howard Mann’s article, <a href="http://www.digbusiness.com/blog/archives/consumers_communications_bill_of_rights.html">Consumers Communications Bill of Rights</a>. It’s a very good reminder that we often ignore/forego common sense and respect of others when we are promoting ourselves in the attempt to make ourselves look so good that we hope we’re irresistable.
1. Tell me clearly who you are, and why you are contacting me.
2. Tell me clearly what you are, or are not, going to do with the information I give you.
3. Don’t pretend that you know me personally. You don’t know me; you know some things about me.
4. Don’t assume that we have a relationship.
5. Don’t assume that I want to have a relationship with you.
Certainly all of these are very pertinent points to remember but numbers 1-3 strike a particular chord with me. I find that ambiguity is something many of us, myself included, are afflicted by when it comes to telling others who we are and why we are asking them to spend their hard earned money for services we offer and then, to make matters more complicated, we tend to smudge our descriptions of what we actually offer. This is particularly true when you offer a wide variety of services but really aren’t specializing in any one, two, or even three areas. Perhaps it’s the fear of losing a "sale" or the reluctance to pigeon-hole ourselves because we are afraid it can be seen as limiting and what if the limits aren’t something a lot of people want? Valid concerns in a day when competition for service is so fierce due to a larger pool of highly qualified providers.
One of the things that truly annoys me, however, as a consumer, is the assumption that you know anything at all about who/what/where I am. How can you? If we’ve never chatted, had coffee, used a ladies room at the same time, just how can you know anything about me? If you knew me you’d know that I don’t like pushy people who make unwarranted assumptions about me. Knowing how I really detest this I tend to not get caught on the horns of this dilemma, but occasionally it catches me as well. The fact is, I don’t know you, and although I think it would benefit both of us to establish a work relationship I must remember to approach you with respect and courtesy. I must remember to introduce myself and my value to you in ways that I hope you will find beneficial. To do that I must do my homework; I must find out as much as I can about who you are, what you need/want, how you work or how you don’t work.
I’m glad I read this and I’m really glad for the reminder of what I don’t like having done being what I need to not do in turn. It is an excellent reminder that ultimately what we are selling is ourselves and if we don’t offer respect we can’t hope to receive it in return.
