Christopher V. Flett

From time to time, something happens in business that makes me angry. After two decades of being an entrepreneur, you’d think that I would have gotten past the emotional side of feeling slighted or needing to stick my nose in the business of something that I don’t have right to (i.e. a client getting screwed over by a partner), but I am still always surprised by how crappy people can treat each other and how cheats can try to screw people over in business without concern of repercussions. Last summer I had a long-term business relation who wanted to have their lawyer  speak on their behalf because they didn’t have the courtesy or the courage to have a professional conversation about their inability to lead their team or follow a system. This lack of professionalism made me angry, but I bit my tongue and simply let the process of business take its course. I referred back to our agreement, engaged the court system in ruling on my position and had the lawyer involved on the other side reviewed for their conduct in the matter. Thought I didn’t have any interest in being aggressive or getting into a pissing match, I was committed to seeing the matter through to the end.

In business, we can be angry, but the thing to remember is that people do dumb things in business, even more so when they are angry. This particular person made many judgement errors throughout the time I did business with them and I would carefully go in and advise them on how to fix their mistakes. Anything from an unhappy client firing them through to a business plan that was one of the most poorly written documents I had ever read. After time and time again moving in to ‘fix’ problems, this individual decided to go on the offense with me which displeased me to say the least. When ever I find myself getting into an angry space, the first thing I think of is…”let the process manage the response”. We have agreements in place with people, not because we don’t trust them, but because we can’t rely on objectivity when something happens. It’s human nature to take up guard when you think someone is trying to screw you, but the proper response is to go back to the process you have put in place. In all occasions where I’ve found myself in this spot, I go back to the process. A partner doesn’t want to pay you your share; refer to the shareholder’s agreement. You call into question the ethics of a lawyer representing the other side on a business transaction, you call the governing body for that lawyer and file a complaint. There is no need getting red in the face, yelling, screaming, and stamping your feet. It’s better to follow the process.

If you find yourself getting aggravated in business, think first of the process(es) in place for you manage the situation professionally.  A strategic strike is always a better response than a physical one. When I’m angry, I get paid because I have a system in place.  Hit them where it hurts, and I don’t mean their stomach. For someone who used the middle initial “M” to refer to ‘money’ (they didn’t have a middle name), there is nothing sweeter than having them courier you a registered cheque for the amount they owed you, but weren’t planning to pay you. That’s gotta hurt! They get to fume about paying you money they didn’t want to (but were contractually obligated to) and you get to have trips, martinis, and other good stuff on their tab.

Let your processes channel your anger, not your words or your physical actions.

Cheers,

C/