Relationships can grow success

What makes a business relationship work?

A friend, facilitating a workshop on this topic, sought my counsel with this question.

Here are my top 13 thoughts and theories, dos and don'ts, philosophies to embrace and things to avoid to make business relationships prosper:

1. The companies and people involved share similar core values and business philosophies.

2. The client or customer views their "provider" as a valued adviser or strategic partner, not as a vendor. (Vendors are expendable; partners are invaluable.)

3. Each sees the other as a "contributor" to their health and wellbeing, success, growth, profitability and a more favorable future.

4. …