Recently our office broke off a long standing vendor relationship of 16 years.

I was asked the following question by one of my staff.  Why did we ever work with this unethical vendor?

The answer was that it was a good relationshp for a long time.  However, now that we are playing Monday morning quarterback, all of tell-tale signs that something was "off" were there in front of me.  

• One sided in their favor
• Taking us for granted
• Trying to undermine our business model
• Taking credit for our actions that they had nothing to do with

Other “Red Flags” were their lack of respect for their own employees, negative comments made about others and paranoia about their own presence in the marketspace.

So now I have to ask myself the question "Why did it take so long to end this relationship?"  The answer is because change is hard and difficult, and the need to factor in all the “what if’s” is time consuming.

When I did break off the relationship, I knew it was the right thing to do and I also knew that I should have done it years sooner.

Unfortunately, after the break-up things got worse.  We endured unethical and negligent behavior, improper actions and torturous interference in our business.  I can point out the actions of this vendor, but not without looking inwards at myself.

I am, by nature, an optimistic person who sees the good in people.  I don't dwell on the bad…

So what I have learned is not to ignore the “red flags” but rather to listen and act when your employees complain about the someone’s behavior.

This relates to other professional firms because I am good at giving advice to NAPLIA clients when it's time to disengage bad clients but need to remind myself to do the same.

Approaching our six month anniversary of the disengagement, I couldn’t be happier with the results. Staff morale has improved and I no longer have to defend the ex-vendor's misbehavior to others.

Last week this all hit home when I met with a new vendor and their comments were eye opening.

“We always liked your agency, but never understood your relationship with the other vendor.  To be honest caused a small shadow of doubt for us.”

PS: I have made new promises; to not avoid changes, to review relationships, to listen to my employees, and watch for “Red Flags”