Sunet Wagner
When Sunet Wagner, who runs Minimax, first approached private schools with the idea of organising drama and musical productions for them, she admits that she had no idea how to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. “I didn’t know you had to listen to them,” says Wagner, who came to clients with “pre-conceived ideas” of what they wanted. But this approach did not work well in convincing schools that they should do business with her. “We had to transform our minds to going to them and asking them what they want.”
She also had problems with suppliers such as choreographers not understanding their briefs properly. And when a crisis did emerge she would inevitably place the blame squarely on her suppliers and clients.
Using a personal guide at a business incubator where she is based, Wagner was able to delve deeper into her business relationships. Today she is much more aware of what she puts across to clients and suppliers and is able to take responsibility for her actions, which has helped her to stay in control of her business.
“It was really about buying into the fact that I have to communicate exactly what I need,” says Wagner.
