Ride Out

Big companies tend to breed fear into others. If they are large and are perceived to have big market presence, its easy to feel intimidated by their sheer size. You'll hear this from folks in the boardroom all the time: "well, it is Hugo Co. - we better not step on their toes" | "guess who we just did a big project for".

Managers of big corporations tend to act like they have these enormous armies behind them giving them power, dominion, and demanding respect. You'll often see folks in this position of power talk down to other companies. Or, on the flip side, you'll see managers afraid of being talked-down to hold their tongues when they would normally speak up. Scope is ignored, people jump at the slightest wimper from the big time co., and I would argue the results are many times thwarted and watered-down because of this tension between the shark and the minnow.

It reminds me of a scene from Braveheart when the English and Scottish are first facing each other for battle. The Scottish nobles see the large, so-called invincible British army, and considering their own small unrefined troupe, are ready to call a truce. Then Wallace rides in and changes the equation. He picks a fight. And the Scottish win.

When you put everything else aside, any project or business relationship really just boils down to two people working together. We need to forget about the size of the army behind. Stop being afraid to ride out. Don't kiss ass, don't shrink back, and if you're on the other side, don't come in with an inflated view of yourself. Relate, be yourself, and let your personality show.

Bottom line - stop worrying about the army and focus on the individual.

For related entries, check out previous blogs: Let Your Personality Show & Personality Matters.