It is tempting to put a label on someone and then assume the label tells you everything you need to know about that person. If you want to build an effective partnering type of relationship with a prospect, you must acquire additional information about that person. Stuart Atkins, a respected authority on communication styles and author of The Name of Your Game, says we should be careful not to use labels that make people feel boxed in, typecast, or judged. He believes we should not classify people; we should classify their strengths and preferences to act one way or another under certain circumstances.31 You also must be careful not to let the label you place on yourself become the justification for your own inflexible behavior. Try not to let the label justify or reinforce why you are unable or unwilling to communicate effectively with others.