The Dangers Of Ignoring Criticisms

It Is Easy For People To Not Take Risks To Their Reputation Seriously

As individuals, most folks feel that they are decent people trying to do a good job in an environment of limited resources and constant pressure to perform. Businesses, particularly those that are successful, rarely consider the damage to their profitability and even survival that can come from disappointed clients attacking their reputation. It can be easy for them to slip into the mindset that, in the tough world of competition, they inevitably have to make compromises and it just can’t be helped if some customers or clients feel they have been let down.

This attitude can spell disaster.

Worried Man
Ignoring Criticism In Business

And It Is Only Going To Get Worse

The use of social media continues to increase by leaps and bounds rapidly making it the dominant vehicle of communication between individuals. And it is clear from research that people are far more strongly motivated by negative events rather than positive news so it is not surprising that more and more people will be keen to express their negative opinions against those companies who they feel have let them down.

Sooner or later a negative image can explode and engulf an organization’s reputation. No amount of money then can restore its credibility and public support. It simply will not be believed.

It is indeed a wise investment to monitor that your group maintains a good reputation with its stakeholders, among other reasons, to avoid the possibility of being overwhelmed with pent up anger.

Five Failures Likely To Cost A Company

  1. Irritation when invited to consider issues of poor service, inadequate quality or unfair treatment
  2. Close minded attitude to any suggestion that things can or should be better
  3. Lack of sincere caring when criticism or a complaint is brought to a representative’s attention
  4. Attacking the message bearer instead of welcoming an opportunity for growth and improvement
  5. Retreating into a cover-up mode rather than facing up to an issue honestly

We’ve all experienced examples where complaints have just not been addressed or worse, given a remorseless, cynically self-justifying reply. Most reproachable of all is when examples of bad service or products or failed bureaucratic responsibilities are pointed out, then companies rather than face up to their failures, indulge in cover-ups and denials. The likelihood of inciting customer revolt is far more likely in these situations than if they had promptly and respectfully responded to the core issue of the dissatisfied consumer.

Sales Challenges & Frustrations Cartoon Salespeople are often eager to stress supposed benefits without admitting to the possible downsides that result from real–life experiences!

Hypocritical Boss

Some bosses will do anything rather than admit they are wrong and should make changes.

And human nature being what it is, when clients feel that you hold them in low esteem and do not respect them or knowingly “rip them off”, then there is a natural tendency to get their own back one way or another.

 

The pendulum is swinging back. People are increasingly unwilling to accept that important communications are blocked from them by unfathomable and non-functional web sites and denials of accountability for bad products and services.