Kanikka Dewanii reminds us that business relationships are often shaped by details that seem insignificant at first. As the Founder at vMintree Cosmetics Pvt. Ltd., she shared a story about losing an important business deal, not because of pricing, product quality, or competition, but because of a single word. The experience highlights an essential truth: success in business depends not only on strategy and execution but also on understanding people. Kanikka Dewanii, demonstrates that communication is more than speaking clearly; it is about making the other person feel respected according to their own expectations.
In today’s fast-moving professional world, many entrepreneurs focus heavily on product development, marketing, negotiations, and scaling operations. These are undoubtedly critical. However, Kanikka Dewanii, brings attention to another dimension that often remains overlooked, cultural awareness and interpersonal sensitivity. A conversation can build trust or quietly weaken it, even when intentions are completely positive.
The incident she shared began during the early days of Mintree. Like many founders, Kanikka Dewanii, personally handled sales meetings and client relationships. Coming from a corporate background, addressing colleagues, seniors, and clients by their first names was natural. It reflected openness, equality, and friendliness. In many corporate environments across the world, such communication creates comfort and reduces hierarchy.
Yet every professional setting has its own unwritten rules.
During a meeting with the owner of a large salon chain, Kanikka Dewanii, addressed the client by her first name. While the intention was warm and respectful from her perspective, the client interpreted it differently. Instead of feeling valued, she perceived it as disrespectful. The deal, which seemed successfully concluded, disappeared almost immediately.
The story demonstrates that communication is never defined solely by the speaker’s intention. It is equally defined by the listener’s interpretation. Kanikka Dewanii, learned that even the smallest choice of words can influence how trust develops between two people.
Many professionals assume that respect has a universal language. In reality, respect varies across cultures, industries, generations, and even individuals. Some appreciate informal conversations because they create equality. Others associate formal titles and respectful greetings with professionalism and recognition. Neither approach is inherently right or wrong. The challenge lies in understanding which approach fits the person standing in front of us.
One of the most valuable aspects of this experience is what happened afterward. Instead of simply moving on to the next opportunity, the team invested nearly eighteen months trying to rebuild the damaged relationship. They apologized repeatedly, continued reaching out, and accepted rejection without giving up. Kanikka Dewanii, shares that although the relationship was eventually repaired, some part of the trust never fully returned.
That detail offers an important reminder. Building trust usually takes time, while losing it can happen within seconds. Restoring it often requires significantly more effort than creating it in the first place. Entrepreneurs frequently measure business decisions through revenue, profit margins, or customer acquisition costs. Stories like this reveal another invisible cost, the emotional investment required to rebuild confidence once it has been lost.
Kanikka Dewanii, also illustrates the importance of learning from uncomfortable experiences rather than hiding them. Many leaders prefer sharing success stories because they inspire confidence. Yet genuine growth often comes from examining moments that did not go according to plan. When leaders openly discuss mistakes, they encourage others to become better listeners, communicators, and decision-makers.
India’s diversity makes this lesson particularly relevant. Languages, traditions, customs, and communication styles differ across regions and communities. A gesture considered polite in one place may carry a different meaning elsewhere. Kanikka Dewanii, points out that reading the person is just as important as reading the room. Understanding individual preferences can make conversations more meaningful and reduce unnecessary misunderstandings.
This principle extends beyond sales meetings. Team management, recruitment, customer service, partnerships, and negotiations all depend on mutual respect. Every interaction becomes stronger when people feel acknowledged in the way they value most. Sometimes this involves using professional titles, while at other times it means adopting a more relaxed tone. Effective communication begins with observation before expression.
Another valuable takeaway from Kanikka Dewanii, is the willingness to adapt. Rather than insisting that her communication style was correct because it matched her corporate experience, she chose to evolve. Adaptability remains one of the defining characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. Markets change, customer preferences shift, technology evolves, and leadership styles mature. The ability to adjust without losing authenticity allows professionals to build stronger and more sustainable relationships.
The experience also highlights the importance of curiosity. Instead of assuming what respect looks like for every individual, asking thoughtful questions and paying attention to subtle cues creates better understanding. Listening carefully often provides more valuable information than speaking confidently.
Entrepreneurship frequently celebrates innovation, resilience, and ambition. However, stories like this remind us that empathy deserves equal attention. Businesses are ultimately built by people serving people. Every negotiation, partnership, and collaboration begins with human connection before commercial agreement. Kanikka Dewanii, emphasizes that genuine respect starts with recognizing that every individual brings unique expectations into a conversation.
Perhaps the most meaningful lesson from this experience is that mistakes can become valuable teachers when they lead to lasting change. The lost deal became more than a business setback; it became a lesson in awareness, humility, and emotional intelligence. Kanikka Dewanii, transformed an uncomfortable memory into practical wisdom that many professionals can apply in their own careers.
In the end, the story is not about one incorrect word. It is about recognizing that communication carries different meanings for different people. Kanikka Dewanii, reminds entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders that understanding another person’s perspective is often the foundation of lasting business relationships. Sometimes, the strongest partnerships are built not by speaking more, but by learning how others wish to be heard and respected.
