In a previous blog post, we have written about communication skills and that bad communication could be a warning sign to failing projects.

So if communication is so important in project management, what would a PM provoke by walking cold into a meeting? Cold reactions, at the very least. Keith Ferrazzi, an expert in relationship development and author of the books Never Eat Alone or Who’s Got Your Back, mentions in his blog the importance of generosity and spreading goodwill to anyone that we meet as a first step towards a warm relationship.

Keith calls this attitude ‘universal currency’. A very fitting term according to me. Everybody understands its value, everyone can enjoy it,  it does not pay to keep it, you have to spend it to get more back in interest, the less you have, the poorest your relationships are.

In this post the author names 5 faces of the universal currency. ‘Compliments and free admiration’ is one of these faces. The other four are:

‘Knowledge Brokering”, “Share hobbies and passions”, “Discuss current events” and “Share humour”.

I would say, one more is missing; “Allow other opinions than your own”. Be open for other points of view and hear the argumentation ’till the end before making your mind.

But what would you think?  Which charm face have you missed in the list and is helpful in a warm business relation?