In Business, the Golden Rule is Not the Gold Standard

Since we were children, most of us have been told that we should treat others as we want to be treated. Well that's a good starting place. But having someone feel special, and in the case of business, truly enjoy doing business with you, requires a simple twist on this piece of advice.

When it comes to effectively dealing with others, the value of the Golden Rule is so overrated that it is addressed in the New York Times best seller Truth or Delusion, co-authored by Ivan Misner, Mike Macedonio, and Mike Garrison. The three authors write, "All the evidence we've gathered about behavior styles and personal preferences supports what we call the Platinum Rule: Treat others they way THEY want to be treated."

There you go. Treating someone the way you would like to be treated is not a customer-centric philosophy. However, treating them the way that they would like to be treated certainly is. So how do you know how customers want to be treated? Just ask them!