No, Your Customers Don’t Really Care (or Want to Hear) about Your Problems – So Stop Complaining

The economy is in a recession. Interest rates are going up. Inflation is rising. There’s a labor shortage. (And, materials are still not readily available.) The list can go on and on and on. What’s even worse, is there are business owners actually do go on and on. They complain about this, that, and the other thing. Some even take it to the next level and complain about things that haven’t even happened yet. Then, although somewhat rare, there are entrepreneurs out there who go so far as to put their gripes and grievances on social media. This doesn’t paint a very positive picture and of course, it does absolutely nothing to correct what is perceived to be or is wrong. In reality, it does far more harm than it does through catharsis. So, if you’re guilty of this extremely unattractive behavior it’s time to stop, and here’s why.

The Internet is Forever

All right, very few business owners actually do complain over the internet but where it’s mostly found is social media. Regardless of the digital property, the internet is forever, meaning that once it is out there, it’s usually not possible to take it back. Even if you’re able to delete it, you’ve already left a negative impression.
We sometimes deny that we’re complaining. Instead, we say that we’re just “being honest,” “venting” or “blowing off steam.” But don’t kid yourself: Whenever you insert negative feelings into a conversation without some sort of resolution, you’re complaining. It’s tempting because there is a lot about entrepreneurship to complain about —Entrepreneur.com
Then, there’s something else to keep in mind. Business owners don’t need to be the ones writing complaints about this or that on the web. Dissatisfied customers will do that instead (and probably with good reason). In other words, if you complain to your customers or in front of them, there’s a good chance they’ll share that experience and that isn’t good for your business’s public reputation.

Instead of Complaining, Do the Following

Everyone is guilty and capable of letting their complaints be known. But for business owners, this is a very bad choice with no real upside. Whether you’re complaining about a problematic customer, an inhospitable vendor, or your bank charging petty nickel and dime fees, you’re still doing it with negative emotion. Sure, people will understand your frustration, but customers really don’t want to hear about it or even care.

So, what should you do when something bothers you and you’re dealing with a customer at that time? Well, the first suggestion is to ignore or resist your instinct to interject complaints and bite your tongue. If you’re able to put it off for a little while, you’ll be able to vent to the right people in an appropriate setting.

Should your personality be one that says it’s best to be honest with everyone and use that excuse as a justification, think twice before you start blurting out complaints. Ask yourself what would you think if you were the customer hearing this? Merely putting yourself in your customers’ shoes ought to be enough to dissuade you from griping. At the very least, it will give you pause to adjust your attitude.

It’s also helpful to remember that complaining doesn’t solve anything. Yes, it does allow you to get something that’s bothering you off your chest, but that’s not usually worth the ultimate cost. Remember that it is not an attractive or trustworthy trait and you’ll do yourself a huge favor.

What other advice would you give business owners who have a bad habit of complaining to customers? Please share your own thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Like this article?

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkdin
Share on Pinterest

Related Posts

Automation illustration

Should I Automate Part of My Business?

Automation promises faster output, lower costs, and fewer mistakes — but it isn’t a free lunch for every small business. Before you replace a manual process (or an employee) with a machine, it’s worth weighing the real tradeoffs in flexibility, reliability, and upfront expense. Here’s a breakdown of automation’s biggest advantages and disadvantages for small businesses.

Read More »
Integrity Capital photo

How Integrity Capital Quadrupled Revenue With the Right Accountability Partner

.elementor-widget-text-editor{font-family:var( –e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;font-weight:var( –e-global-typography-text-font-weight );color:var( –e-global-color-text );}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:var( –e-global-color-primary );}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap, .elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-default .elementor-drop-cap{color:var( –e-global-color-primary );border-color:var( –e-global-color-primary );} In the summer of 2003, Dave Kotter left a commercial real estate lending company he didn’t enjoy working for and started his own: Integrity Capital. Over the next decade-plus, he built a solid book of business the hard way, through relationships and hustle. But by 2016, Dave hit a wall familiar to a lot of founders — he knew he wanted to grow, and he knew the tools to get there weren’t in his own skillset. “The greatest value I’ve gotten from John is accountability and synergy,” said Dave Kotter, Owner of Integrity Capital. “I wanted more than a coach. I needed to work with someone that not only would hold me accountable but also have the experience necessary to build an infrastructure to help me grow the company.” Ambition Without a System Dave had the drive to grow Integrity Capital, but not a clear next step. The specific mechanics of scaling a commercial lending business — the systems, the org structure, the metrics — were outside what he’d built himself to do. There was no reliable way to track and measure what was working, no dedicated team to run day-to-day operations, and no built-in accountability to keep the business moving toward its goals. Dave had worked with a business coach before, but never with a full-fledged consultant who could actually help build that infrastructure. He knew John Waters and respected his work ethic, character, and integrity — a fitting match for a company built on the same value. Building the Machine Behind the Business Waters Business Consulting Group started by taking an honest look at Integrity Capital’s past financial performance, then used that baseline to build a financial forecast model Dave could actually plan around. From there, the team developed a Strategic Growth Plan and helped Dave prioritize his day-to-day activities so they aligned directly with that plan, rather than pulling in a dozen different directions. An organizational chart gave the business clear operational responsibilities for the first time, paired with key performance metrics tracked every single week. To keep momentum and accountability in place, Dave and John met for weekly 90-minute sessions — a cadence that kept Integrity Capital’s growth plan from becoming another good idea that quietly faded. Quadrupling Revenue, One System at a Time The infrastructure work paid off directly in the numbers. Over more than two years of partnership, Waters Business Consulting Group helped Integrity Capital roughly quadruple its top-line revenue — growing from $223,000 and trending toward $650,000. Behind that growth was a full work-flow map of the entire client life cycle, which gave Integrity Capital transparent processes, procedures, and key performance indicators for the first time. Just as important, Dave finally had clarity and accuracy on the health of his pipeline, which meant more predictable, more objective decisions instead of gut calls. With key talent added to the organization alongside those new processes, Dave was able to start stepping back from the daily grind of running the business and redirect his time toward bigger, more strategic opportunities — the work only he could do. Want This Kind of Accountability in Your Business? Dave’s story is a common one: talented owners who know they want more, but not exactly how to systematize their way there. A free consultation is the place to find out what that next step looks like for your business. Contact Waters Business Consulting Group to schedule your free consultation.

Read More »

Imagine Selling Your Business…

How Would Your Life Change?

You didn’t start your business just to stay busy—you built it to create freedom, security, and options for yourself and your family. Selling your business can be life-changing, but the real question is whether you’re intentionally building toward that outcome or simply leaving it to chance.

Sign up below for a free consultative session to learn what your business could be worth today and in the future! 

Thank you for your interest in learning what your business is worth. We will be in touch shortly.