I know that the word “blacklist” has such a negative connotation—so negative, in fact, that I am hesitant to use it. In my business and my other work, I tend to refer to these folks as “trouble-makers” but I have discovered that there can be positive reasons for keeping track of these individuals…
Now, before everyone jumps all over me, I am not talking about publishing a list on your web site or serious judgment here, but what I am talking about is keeping track of those individuals who might pose problems for your business operations—slow pays, those who make a lot of returns, vendors who provide poor service, clients who are extremely difficult to work with, etc. A simple Word document or list with notes about the interactions may be all you need, but you at least have a record that can help you avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
Think of it as making “a note in the file.” Some of us can get very busy in our businesses and forget what has gone down in the past. Having a written record of those individuals who took up a lot of our time or cost our businesses money can make good sense. We do not have to be nasty or slanderous, but if we have decided not to work with someone any longer then making a written note of it is reasonable. I have found that having the records is especially helpful if you are going to have someone else substitute for you or help out in your business. If there is a problematic customer or someone you would rather avoid, you can share that information so that a substitute will not be taken advantage of. Remember that you are the boss and you really do get to decide who you want to do business with and who you would rather avoid. There is no sense getting burned more than once!
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Is it Me? Or is Someone Else Being Difficult?