Disengage

Borg Tractor Beam Engaged

Okay. I’m going to reveal a little of my nerdy side. (Not a surprise to a lot of you!) I’m a huge fan of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” I try to catch it whenever it’s on and I’ve got the time to devote to an entire episode.

One of my favorite words from the show (yes, I have favorite words) is disengage. This is usually spoken when the tractor beam needs to be shut off.

It is the tractor beam that has caused a relationship between the host (Enterprise) and the thing being held captive, towed or protected.

How often do you consciously engage your customers? And by engage I really like the definition of engage as related to mechanics: to cause (gears or the like) to become interlocked; interlock with.

Would you want to be interlocked with your customers? Better yet, how would your customers feel about being interlocked with YOU?

Do what you can so that your customers long to have a relationship with you. Don’t be the one to disengage!