Play Nice With Others

by JimRaffel on June 9, 2010

This was the title of my third slide for a recent presentation. “Play nice with others” ended up being the one thing I left my audience with.

play nice with othersPlay nice with others. In the context of my presentation referred to ColorMetrix software products being interoperable with other “competitive” products. I was sharing the podium with seven other vendors that in days of old I would have called competitors. (I suspect many of them still refer to me that way).

Here’s what has changed. All eight of our products are just tools to the customer. Just as your toolbox at home likely contains more than one kind of screw driver, my audiences’ color toolboxes often contain several of the tools represented by speakers on the podium. While each of the products overlaps others in functionality, the reality is we each have our own strengths in the eyes of the customer.

The speaker after me said “play nice with others.” He said it word for word. I was flattered, got over in instantly, looked up at the audience, smiled and got lots of smiles back. (I was then distracted by Twitter – Yes, I was that guy tweeting from the podium.) Later at dinner the session moderator commented that three or four of the speakers that followed me also said play nice with others word for word.

The giving economy requires nice play. You can’t be giving away 95% of what you do for free and not be doing it nicely with others. If you bash your competition in your free white paper or ebook, you have drastically diminished the value of your free stuff. How about building each other up and emphasizing the need for a toolbox full of all the best tools.

Do you play nicely with others or am I crazy and doing this alone?

Tagged as: competitors, play nice, podium, toolbox

  • http://salesplaybook.blogspot.com/ paulcastain

    It certainly is a different world Jim!

    There was a time when our industry had lots of cut throat tendencies but it appears we have healed considerably.

    Lots of reasons for it I'm sure. I think social networking in its own modest way has helped us. I would venture to say because it brings a sense of community into the picture.

    I was just having this discussion with some folks in my Linkedin group the other day. We all agreed that its a powerful testimonial to the spirit of community, when you have several competitors all helping each other and contributing so we may all figure out this crazy world together.

    While I'd love to think that we have the other side of the coin figured out, the realist in me says we still have some distance to travel in this area. The good news is that, those who use free venues like E-Books, white papers, webinars etc to bad mouth only enhance the brand of their more professional competitor.

    Well done as always Jim!

    With respect and appreciation,
    Paul Castain

  • http://randymurrayonline.com/ Randy Murray

    Good advice, Jim.

    This is an increasingly important rule. Today's competitor might be tomorrow's partner (or customer, or employer). And prospects easily sour on bitter rivalry between competitors. Better to be seen above the fray.

    To your rule, I can only add, “Avoid Burning Bridges.” http://ht.ly/1WDdJ

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    I think community is the key word. You're building one with your LinkedIn group. I'm building one with my customers. That's the key create a forum where we can help each other.

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    I'll check the post out (I think I may have already read it). When I am asked who my competitors are (and I am asked that question by prospects) I now say – we don't have any. Here's some other companies that do similar work.

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