Agency/Client Relations (5 of 5): Now, That’s a Name I Haven’t Heard in a While.
I've walked away from a few things in my life. The one thing every break-up experience has had in common is healing. You might think a business relationship is different, but it's not. It's really not.
Think about that conversation you had with a new client, vendor, partner. You know the one where they seem really concerned about some particular quirk. Missed deadline, people off-boarding, getting the wrong team, price changes... They seem really sensitive. And, there's a darn good reason.
They've been hurt. They're still healing.
As you move on from your Agency/Client relationship, you are going to carry some scars. In the professional world, the healing process may include new procedures and protocols to make sure "that never happens again!" They may last, they may not. You may find some systems are designed to deal with a very particular issue that never happens again. Or, you may find you like the change, and want to include it as part of your culture, going forward.
Either way, you're in the healing process.
In time, you may run across your former agency. Likely, it's a colleague that is considering an engagement with them. They want to know what you think? And... Now you have to decide what you really, really think?
Pause, first.
I've never found it helpful to speak poorly about a colleague. I'd prefer to think of them as a pot looking for a lid. There is probably a perfect fit. Me? No, it wasn't a good fit. Oh, God no. But I wasn't a good fit for them either.
"What's that, you say? What do I think of them?"
And here's some advice... Know what you think in advance!
They did some good work... Focus on what you saw as their strengths and traits that you found rewarding when you were hiring them and when you were working with them.
We weren't the right fit, together... Take ownership of the relationship. You aren't working together because of the chemistry or alignment. I promise you, both sides played a part and that doesn't mean either side was wrong.
It depends what you're looking for... Goes back to number 1. If you're looking for X, you will probably be very happy. If you're looking for Y, that's not really the experience I had (Note the ownership, again). Don't project your own issues into this equation.
Give thoughtful answers... Do not react impulsively. Think it through and take your time. Your answers are important to a lot of people and you need to be mindful. Be honest, transparent and self-aware.
Contribute positive to the universe... This is a personal perspective, for me. I really believe in finding and amplifying the good. Sometimes you walk away, and that's wise. But there was always some degree of good. Think about what you could say or do to add positive energy to the universe.
This concludes my musings on the agency/client relationship. From the first date, through the journey and, the eventual, demise. Which is the fate of all things. I would hope that all of us find the good in these journeys, grow from them and look back with some degree of fondness.
Your relationship will end. That is a truth. How it ends and how you remember it is really up to you.