Leaving your bad taste doesn’t help others

A few businesses ago I had an interaction with someone who was new to an organization. They had joined to replace another person that exited (who I also happened to know). One of the things that came up in the conversation was a specific vendor. In this instance I happened to also know the vendor and the details around how both sides negotiated and setup their agreement. I’m not attached to either directly as an employee, but know both as a third party and like both organizations.

The previous person wasn’t happy with the agreement they signed. There are many reasons for this, but my primary assessment is buyer’s clarity and remorse. Almost immediately after signing there were questions about the vendor not doing what they agreed to, even though the expectations were clearly being met based on the outlined agreement. Without going into details here, there is also an argument to be made that the issue was wrong fit. More was expected than what was being paid for and there were significant budgetary constraints on the client end compared to the service they desired.

The thing that was interesting about this conversation was that the new person happened to be questioning this vendor’s utility without having ever had a meeting with the other organization. It makes sense. When the previous person left they gave the incoming staff a list of their frustrations about the other organization. So now the new person can’t walk into a meeting with a new relationship and a truly objective view. I gave the new person some counsel about places where I saw misalignment and some things to look at on the agreement and how to possibly reposition for greater alignment to organization needs and value creation.

What I know in these situations is that the best thing for everyone is to find places for alignment and value creation. The previous person seemed to close to it to be able to do that and might have even caused the incoming staff to live with the same issue while they exited. There’s a thing about putting people in a box like that in your mind. It’s in your mind and you’re the only person who can release them. If you never do that work, then eventually you’ll work to help other people see them in the same box. This greatly reduces the opportunity for greater service to others and greater value creation for all. Tending the mental garden so bitter roots don’t spring up is the only way you can get to a place of true service to others.

How are you doing with the other orgs you work with? Need to take a step back today and reset or are you crushing this? I want advice on both sides.