Making Someone Feel Important.

“You is kind, you is smart, you is important.” – Kathryn Stockett, The Help

I love this line from, The Help. It’s so simple, and powerful.

Did you know that feeling that we’re respected; in essence that we matter is the one quality we humans crave most in our interactions with others? We want to feel that we’re important.

You know, when you think about it, making people feel that they’re important or that they have value is really such an easy thing to deliver on that it’s surprising that we don’t take greater advantage of the opportunity to show it.  –  Which is crazy because each of us has as much, if not more to gain from the gesture than the recipient. Consider this.

You approach the entrance to a store. As you reach to open the door someone on the other side opens it first, steps aside and holds the door to allow you to go through. It may be a small gesture, but by acknowledging you and letting you go first this stranger is treating you with respect. They’re letting you know that “you matter. “  That feels good doesn’t it?

Or, how about this? Imagine, you’re driving along a road when you come upon a construction detour that requires you to merge lanes. The construction has caused a lot of traffic congestion.  Fearing that you’ll be stuck in place for a while, you sigh and put on your directional. Just as you do this another driver waves to you to let you merge in front of him. Again I know it may seem like a small thing but doesn’t it make you feel good? That’s important! It’s important because treating one another with respect in gestures both large and small, not only makes the recipient feel good; it makes everyone involved feel good.

All of this of course, has powerful implications for our business relationships as well. Here’s proof.

A professional services association conducted a survey of clients. It asked them what they most wanted from a service provider. Do you know what topped the list? It wasn’t that they wanted less expensive services. It wasn’t that they wanted their service provider to possess greater technical knowledge. What clients wanted most was to feel that their service provider was interested in cultivating a long-term relationship with them and, that the provider would be responsive. Translation: The clients’ surveyed want to feel that they matter.

How easy is that? In order to win more clients you don’t have to provide the cheapest service or even be the smartest, most experienced provider in your business. You just need to make your client feel that they’re important. To me that sound like a win win!

So, make someone feel important. You’ll both benefit.

This much I know.

-Jeanine