Espresso 
The Sexbyfood blog about innovation, simplicity, integrity and tenacity.
Good Cop Bad Cop
I've done a couple projects in the past. We used to build up great relationships with suppliers. Work with them all the time. Refer them. Give alot of trust and positive energy. Run a tight shop. Definitely good cop kind of relationships.
Then again we've worked with groups (often the big corporates) who would delay payment, not deliver, wreck careful arrangements and installations, cheat on inventory, you name it. In these cases, we'd definitely put alot of negative energy into the mix. Threaten legal action. Etc. Definitely bad cop kind of relationships.
The problem with bad cop is you can't sustain it. It's stressful. No matter how used to it or professional at it you are. And it's certainly not popular. You quickly learn who's really behind you and who's not and it's usually fewer people than you would have thought. It's often painful. It's not easy to be candid and abrasive for the sake of good. Bad cop makes everything black and white. For or against. Love or hate. No middle ground. No no-man's land. That makes people uncomfortable. People show their true colors.
I'm sure there's a time and a place for good cop. Business wouldn't be fun without it. It's where I certainly want to be. The question is, is there a time and a place for bad cop? Is it a good skill to have? Or do you just put on more "patient", "diplomatic" good cop with smiles all round?
What about authenticity, integrity, candor?