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A friend and business colleague told me of a recent experience, and once I was able to stop saying "Seriously? She really said that?" I had the immediate thought of "newsletter topic". Why? There are just so many aspects of the experience to learn from.
As a service provider -- a vendor -- to a business for several years, my colleague had been invited to this company's holiday celebrations. She enjoyed a friendly, yet still professional relationship with her main contact at the business, "Ms. Z", and when "Ms. Z" invited her to join her and a group of her co-workers for a fun outing on a Saturday, my colleague went along.
She did tell me that there was some hesitation on her part, given that it was the weekend and she had been looking forward to some down time, but as the activity was something she knew she would really enjoy, she went -- and had a wonderful time!
At the end of the day, when the group returned to their meeting point and everyone had exited the limousine (it had been that kind of an event), "Ms. Z" approached my colleague (keep in mind they have been working together for several years) and said: "You know, up until today, I wasn't sure I liked you very much."
Wow. Was my colleague glad she went on this Saturday event? Absolutely! It provided her with the opportunity to not only strengthen a business relationship, but in this case, revise someone's opinion of her. Sometimes things are not always what they seem.
Not only that, but she has probably gained a new client -- "Ms. Z" is interested in utilizing her professional services on a personal basis.
Perhaps best of all, it appears she may have made a new friend; the two women are looking forward to having dinner together in the next few weeks -- to chat and become better acquainted outside of work.
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