Somewhere along the way though, people have confused transparency with laying all of their cards face up on the table. The two are quite different. One has a healthy place in business, the other is simply foolish.
Trade secrets, client confidentiality issues, ideas and projects that are not yet "ready for primetime" should be kept offline. Doing so doesn't make you or your company any less transparent.
A venue charging for a preferred vendor list and hoping that the companies who sign up keep the paid relationship quiet from their clients lacks needed transparency. A wedding professional who receives free services in exchange for online publicity yet who never discloses the gift or discount lacks legal transparency. On the other hand, a company that keeps quiet about filming a television pilot or about getting ready to launch a new product doesn't lack transparency; they have an appropriate sense of timing.
Be transparent. Don't be stupid.
This post was originally published July 2010.
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2 comments:
SO true Liene! It amazes me how those that embrace social media so often lack the moral and legal ethics with which to participate in it. Social media has lowered the barrier to entry in our industry (and I'm sure so many others) but it will also ultimately be the vehicle that drives out those unfit to be in that field. Then there's the flip side - I wish I had a Liene Stevens on my staff to curb my transparency sometimes...it can get the best of me, but it's a learning process I know. (Most of which I've learned from you lady!)
I hate when vendors make you pay to be one of their preferred vendors. I would NEVER do that. You should refer vendors because they are good, not because they pay you. As a wedding planner I find one major concern when I meet with potential clients, and that is that they are worried I will force them to use a vendor that is paying me. I would never do that. I get my set fee from my clients and then pass on all vendor discounts to them.
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