Clients and Partners Will Drop You If They See This Behavior (and You Might Not Even Know You're Doing It)

Clients and Partners Will Drop You If They See This Behavior (and You Might Not Even Know You’re Doing It) When clients, prospects and partners don’t feel respected, they quietly walk away. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Key Takeaways Buyers walk away from sellers who exhibit unacceptable behaviors, and a lack of respect is the core issue. However, having respect for others isn’t enough - you have to actually demonstrate respect. Buyers notice when it’s absent. Respect isn’t just a soft skill. It’s one of the most impactful core competencies you can develop. Over 75% of buyers will walk away from a seller who exhibits unacceptable behavior. And most sellers are never told that respect - or the lack of it - is the core issue. As the founder, I’m my company’s chief salesperson. In that role, staying aligned with what clients, partners and stakeholders expect isn’t optional; it’s the difference between growing and getting ghosted. Prospects spend significant time researching your business and evaluating whether you can address their challenges. But when they finally reach out, they’re judging something deeper than features. They’re looking for signs of competence, credibility and emotional intelligence . And they’re assessing whether you’ll treat them - and their team - with the respect they deserve. Fail that test, and you’ll almost never get a second chance. Related: 4 Reasons Why Rudeness Leads to Business Failure Having respect for others isn’t enough In a recent survey conducted by my company, SalesFuel, we asked more than 2,000 senior business leaders about the supplier behaviors that cause them to disengage, withdraw or seek out a competitor. The top responses all pointed to the same root issue: respect. This attitude is understandable. Beginning a partnership with a new vendor is an angst-filled process for buyers. They want to feel heard. They want their opinions validated. They want to know that the person on the other side of the conversation values their time, business and goals. Respect communicates all of that without needing to be spelled out. But it’s not just feeling respect for the other person, you have to DEMONSTRATE respect - always and in all ways. My recent trip to Japan reinforced the importance of small gestures. In Japan, respect is not merely encouraged but deeply embedded in daily life. Even the simplest interactions reflect an awareness of how one’s behavior affects others. Public spaces are intentionally quiet. A verbal apology is accompanied by a deep bow that signals the depth of your sincerity. In North America, for example, buyers don’t expect the same gestures. But they notice the absence of respect. Don’t let unintentional behavior disqualify you When suppliers fall short of expectations, buyers are quick to react. Our research reveals that the following seller behaviors can cause a buyer to move on to another potential partner: Treating their support staff poorly: 39% Poor etiquette or social skills: 33% Ignoring emails and calls: 31% Treating a buyer like they are too small to...

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