When your biggest customer calls with an emergency request, do you dial 911? Chances are you are setting off unintended fire alarms – and causing your profits to lose altitude.
I met Shane, a dubiously anointed “star salesperson,” on a client assignment in San Diego. He piloted the biggest customers. When I worked with the General Manager of this $40M software division—his boss—I noticed how Shane could turn the entire support and customer service organization into a tailspin with one email. I cringed when I witnessed how his knee-jerk
Over the years, Shane’s General Manager was equally to blame. He fostered a customer-driven culture. And, as a B2B business leader, you may be unconsciously acting the same way. This behavior is guaranteed to stall your growth and burn out your best people.
First, let’s draw a distinct line between customer-focused and customer-driven cultures. Think of customer-driven companies as those firms who will go the extra mile for every customer, no matter how large or small. They allocate their best resources to every account. And the founders probably invest at least half of their time with customers. Read on for a more exhaustive list.
Conversely, customer-centric companies put customer needs (latent and overt) front and center when making important growth decisions—not all decisions. They treat clients in accordance with their values. But they are unwilling to sacrifice their relationships and principles to make one more sale.
Contrary to common wisdom, every B2B firm is not in the customer service business. My auto mechanic is. And guess what? If they mess up my new Audi SUV, I will complain and find another one.
Here are common traits of client-driven cultures. If more than three ring true for you, it may be time to re-visit your true purpose and ways of operating:
- Your clients comprise most of your social circle.
- At least 20% of your revenue is derived from one large client.
- You deploy an arbitrary resource allocation process.
- Your delivery resources are at every beck and call of the sales organization. This encourages artificial “rush” jobs accepted and done at the expense of Developing.
- Principals are deeply involved in delivering service and making sales calls. Every project is unique because clients demand changes, solutions, and change orders—at no extra charge.
- You encourage personal boundary “erosion.” After-hours calls and pages are worn like a badge of honor. Your team cannot enjoy a meal without their smart phones beside them to harass their dining companions. If your sales, marketing, and support people are encouraging your clients to call them on a 24 x 7 basis, and they sleep with their smart phone at bedside, then you are a client-driven culture (not to mention dysfunctional. Would you want to be married to that person?)
- Suit vs. creative mentality. According to David Baker, founder of Recourses and author of Managing Right the First Time, “’Suit’ is shorthand for account executives. In a business that's focused too much on saying ‘yes’ to clients, they often make promises that the creative types or technicians have to fulfill, cleaning up after the suits.” This will kill profits and morale in a heartbeat.
Imagine if my local airport – Washington National-- were run this way. Any self-appointed “important person” would fight to control their own runway. The gates would admit passengers on a first come, first served basis. Air traffic control would be rendered useless. The inmates would indeed be running the asylum.
Shane cannot be trusted roaming the airport terminal without adult supervision. Nor are your teams if you have given them carte blanche to rule the airways with customer driven behaviors. Act now before the controllers (your customers) go on strike.
[Image: Flickr user Ed Yourdon]
This post was originally published on fastcompany.com.
Copyright 2011, Lisa Nirell. All rights reserved.
