professional courtesy?

i read a blog today from a president of an ad agency about the days of business being conducted on a hand shake and that being as good as gold -- but yet today there is no guarantee even when you have a contract...i found that beyond interesting and to that same note, what happened to communication? how is it that now in a society where there is constant "connection" - there is so much disconnect? sure blogging is fun and connecting with old friends on facebook is overall a neat concept -- but are we getting even more disconnected with all these new ways of communication? 

we all now rely on emails and text messaging to keep in touch and while i too enjoy the perks of that - i truly believe something is lost. professionally speaking - well yes, i am blessed with running a business from home - and having clients all over the country because of the internet and technology but emails again only go so far. my business is successful because i am personally involved with my clients. i am vested in their success as much as i am my own. i meet them face to face, i talk to them on the phone - its not just about sending an email. 

and ironically - even with these extra means of communication and constant contact -i think that businesses lose site of something even more important - professional courtesy. that is what the crux of the other blog was -- losing site of those foundations of business and this to me is one that is evidently losing out. 

when i am asked to give put together a proposal - i do it and i get it to a client ahead of deadline. i do that so that they have the information they need to make an informed decision in a timely manner. whether that leads to new business for me or not - sometimes things just don't work out. but just like i respect their time - i would expect that out of respect of my time, a client would respond accordingly. whether you are moving forward or not moving forward, extend the professional courtesy to your vendor to give them the feedback they deserve. no matter how big or how small a client or a business - everyone's time is valuable.

so the next time any vendor or client contacts you to follow up - take a minute and make a call or if you really don't have the time - send an email - but at the very least have the respect and professional courtesy to let them know where they stand. because even if business is no longer built on the integrity of a handshake - its not too late to have communication and professional courtesy.