We’ve all dealt with people from different walks of life. The truth is we know what social sphere we’ve been born into. Life as employees isn’t really that challenging socially, simply because on average we spend time with people with similar qualifications, similar life experience, similar financial status and similar backgrounds.
Entrepreneurship can spin this upside down. We need to be able to deal with people from all walks of life. From venture capitalists and bankers who speak with a plum in their throat, to tradesman, factory floor workers and truck drivers who may be more interested in the latest dirty joke or football finals. – Of course the clichés used here are to stress a point.
We need the ability to step up and step down. It’s not about us. We ought to wear what they wear and talk how they talk. In accounting it’s known as the matching principal. In start up land it just makes good sense.