Risk & Business Magazine General Insurance Services Magazine | Page 10

RECIPROCITY
Business
Risk
Weekly
Wisdoms
W
&
hether you are in business
as an entrepreneur or a
business owner, there’s
always risk, there’s always
worry, there’s always
competition, there’s always disruptive
technology, there are always shifts in the
mind-set of the consumer. Are you here
today, gone tomorrow? Are you relevant
forever no matter what your product or
service? But I know one rule — if rule is
the right word — of business success and
prosperity, of creating sustainable wealth,
that stands the test of time. That one rule
is reciprocity. And I think most companies
miss the mark when aiming for reciprocity,
preventing them from achieving all that is
to be achieved with this powerful rule.
Reciprocity, in its simplest form, is doing
an act or a service, like getting someone a
gift when it’s unexpected, that makes the
person feel obligated to do something for
you to make things even. The simplest form
of reciprocity is complimenting someone:
“Oh my God, I love your shoes.” Most people
immediately feel like they must compliment
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