OPI - Other People’s Issues

Compassion is important, both in business and personal affairs. It’s important to put yourself in your client’s/customer’s/colleague’s shoes so that you can be more intuitive to their professional needs. However, at what point does compassion, empathy, and your overall involvement become a detriment to you & your business? That answer is different for everyone.

Take for example, a client who just learned they are seriously ill. You can feel compassion, sadness, or empathize with their situation. But (there’s always a but, isn’t there?) when your empathy begins to interfere with your ability to maintain a professional relationship, it’s not always easy to see. I’ve worked with many a client with whom I’ve developed a close friendship & have found myself in just such a situation more than once. It’s hard to draw the line between professional responsibilities & personal involvement as a friend. It’s natural to want to help a friend, but nonetheless, there as to be a line in the sand somewhere..for both personal and professional well-being on both parts.

The line blurs, especially for service professionals whose livelihood thrives on building relationships. Building a relationship with your clients is paramount to a successful practice. However, as most service professionals know, it’s even more imperative to have a clear ‘line in the sand’ dividing professional responsibilities and personal involvement. The health and well-being of both you and your business could very well depend on your ability to draw that line.

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