Working with a new client in any atmosphere can be a gamble. It is uncertain how they will work with you and what their level of receptiveness will be. In any event, you should always go in with an open mind so you are ready for whatever direction your new relationship will take you. Having a strategy to prepare you for when things go south can be just as prudent as arming yourself with a well laid-out plan for if everything goes as hoped.

Fortunately, working with The Butler Agency out of Lakeway, Texas proves to fall under the latter of those two avenues. The owner of the company, Dave Butler, certainly came into his relationship with Zywave equipped with three necessary traits and skills for establishing a new partnership. Each quality carried over to the next as the agency moved forward with reaching their goal.

Motivation
Each week during regular meetings, the set agenda was always followed. There was not a week that went by when Butler was unprepared or unwilling to move onto the next step. New working relationships thrive on determination and a focused mindset like this one.

Superb Listening Skills
Give and take is crucial when cementing a connection with any one individual or group of people. Not listening or truly hearing what your counterpart has to say leaves you with a conversation that is nothing but one-sided. Butler excelled at bringing ideas to the table and asking the right questions just as strongly as he did taking the time to listen to direction and applying that advice.

Desire to Succeed
Most importantly, Butler made it very clear from day one he was not looking to just skate in under the radar. He was transparent that his goal was to become a master at the new craft. Regardless of whether or not it was at the owner level or down to a brand new employee, the overall theme from the start was aimed at success.

There are other characteristics of good leaders that will always shine through when tackling a new project or working on a new partnership. However, in this case, the three outlined above merely outweighed many other standout qualities that were seen in Dave Butler and his agency. His company is one that is definitely on the expert path, and it doesn’t look like he will be letting anything deter them anytime soon.