The Opportunity Cost of Being Ungrateful

In business contexts, where we are often paying for things and delivering products or services based on contractual terms, it is pretty easy to forget the social graces that we might otherwise employ. I certainly have been guilty of this in my haste or impatience to finish something or get something done more 'expediently'.  And, in general, that is still an OK way to proceed if everyone understands and is playing by the rules.

The problem? We as humans crave appreciation so while it is OK to process a transaction with a vendor or a customer and not think anything more of it...  there is an opportunity cost associated with not doing a little more than necessary to make sure people feel appreciated.  The opportunity cost is equal to whatever the person on the other end of the transaction would have done for you if you had expressed appropriate appreciation for their efforts. And interestingly, it's often weak links from which serendipitous opportunities spring - because someone took the extra time to make an introduction, to answer a question, to point you in an interesting direction, to share some important information. People only do that if they feel appreciated. Like good communications and relationships, that reciprocity is impossible to force. If people are good listeners, it is often this freely given advice that is really critical to understanding context, issues, & opportunities.

What is worse, there are people who go out of their way to help when asked - even though they are not obligated to do so and then they don't get any acknowledgment. Well, that is a whole different thing. Not only are they not getting their mouths fed, they are not getting their souls fed. It has the effect of making those that are helpful regret the interaction and feel badly about themselves for allowing themselves to get used.  It shuts people down. In that scenario, the receiver of someone's help is essentially stopping goodwill cold. They are cutting off future opportunity. Ouch. This picture seemed so appropriate to this topic - say thank you and move forward. Forget acknowledgment and be stopped (and yes, it's a Flickr image - I always try to link the image to the original in order to attribute).

We are moving into the networked era - where everything is intertwined and inter-related. Partnerships and connections will matter more than ever. I have a long list of people on my 'to thank' list and thanking often takes the form of connecting people, giving them my attention when they ask for it, offering my advice if it is helpful, saying thank you, RTing their content, reading their blogs, linking - there are lots of ways big and small to acknowledge someone's impact on you and your job.  And it's important.

Lastly, thank you for giving me your time and attention by reading my blog. I may not 'know' you but no matter, you have given me something valuable - your time - and I appreciate that.

Comments

[working girl]

I agree. I've also been thinking and blogging about the importance of gratitude in a business setting and I really like how you put it.