Relationships are at the core of all business, small or large. Friends, family, vendors, customers and employees are all part of the people impacted by your small business. Relationships can be a challenge to manage, but if you do it well and identify problems early, you can increase your likelihood of success.

A transparent, open work environment breeds the best relationships. Operating with integrity puts you in the position of not being challenged when it is time to have a difficult conversation with an employee or vendor. Allowing people to safely air their concerns when they arise is also crucial.

Managing customer concerns and problems well can be the difference between success and failure. Even when they aren’t right, the customer should always feel like they are. By staying in regular contact with them, you can identify small fires before they burn out of control. When there is an issue, admitting fault and correcting problems quickly actually increases customer loyalty more than making no mistakes at all!

You have to have vendors and suppliers for your business, but they can cause headaches for your business. Late delivery, faulty product will cause problems for you and your customers. Learn to quickly identify and address problems before frustration builds. Let your suppliers know your expectations up front.

Your employees are the backbone of your business. They are free marketing, customer service and support for you. Provide them with a solid understand of their role and how it fits into the business’s overall success. Be available to listen to ideas and concerns. Learn to identify the early signs of an unhappy team member because they can infect the entire business culture with negativity.

Providing your staff members with rewards, challenges and flexibility will help keep the majority happy. But you will sometimes encounter issues where a hiring mistake was made or the employee is just not performing due to outside reasons you can’t change. An employee who is negatively impacting your business, your customers and the rest of team may need to be terminated. If you have followed your human resources policies and employment law, this decision is easier and will sometimes end positively, in the long-term, for the employee as well.

A group of individuals who are often forgotten, but are also impacted by your business are your friends and family. A small business can inadvertently consume your mind, your free time and impact your personal life. It may be too late for your particular circumstance, but it is helpful to paint a very realistic picture of what to expect in the first several years of your business. Allow friends and family members to discuss their concerns with you freely and, as much as possible, set boundaries and delegate to prevent yourself from working an unreasonable amount.

Relationships are at the heart of your business. Keeping an eye open for early signs of problems and responding quickly can help these relationships run well. Always be appreciative to those who support your business ventures and you are more likely to encounter success.

With 30 years of consulting experience, Steven Schlagel offers training and coaching for startups, entrepreneurs and small business owners. Check his site for more articles to increase your success!