Disruption Intrusive Trespasser

Face-to-face is without any doubt the most impactful process for accomplishing almost anything worthwhile.  Especially when real people are deeply involved and meaningful relationships must be cultivated and fostered. Face-to-face is also the riskiest and most uncertain in the beginning.

The best professional and personal relationships are built and maintained in person.

When you begin the face-to-face ongoing process of building relationships you are very likely going to be branded as a disruption, or intrusion and possible trespasser. This is a normal reaction from folks who have other issues to deal with and really don't appreciate the value you represent. Yet!

The most damaging response you can have to the negative reaction you are likely to encounter is to take it personally and possibly respond badly. People know when you are sincere and when you are not. There is typically nothing personal involved, other than your precieved value or, more precisely, lack of. The people you are face-to-face with early in the process, did not plan on investing any of their valuable time with you or anyone else they don't have a productive relationship with. They are too busy dealing with other more important matters and would appreciate it if you would just move on. You should be ready to do so and then, come back!

During the early stages of the relationship building process, you must anticipate this unwelcome reaction and be prepared to make whatever progress you are allowed to without becoming so annoying that you are not welcome back. Your goal is to develop a solid and mutually beneficial relationship that will endure based on commitment and value. The way you accomplish this goal is to first make clear the fact that you are sincere and are there to help and offer realistic solutions once problems are identified. Your solutions are backed up by your firm commitment to get to know the right people and the issues before you make any recommendations and to politely move on if you cannot positively contribute.