When I ask skilled technical and service professionals and leaders what their single biggest challenge is, I almost always get the same response:
“My clients.”
For more than 25 years, I’ve been asking top-notch leaders, managers and professionals from all around the world this same question. Whether they see themselves on the technology, marketing, consulting, sales, […]
This article was originally posted on June 1, 2017, and has been updated.
I think you’ll agree with me on this one… Trust is an absolutely essential foundation of any great relationship.
A breakdown of trust is one of the most significant reasons a group, team, or organization under-performs, or even fails.
Eroded trust undermines the best goals, and renders mission statements […]
When it comes to communication skills, understanding how people are thinking and making their decisions is supremely valuable. Your ability to be effective with your communication skills increases dramatically when you know where someone is in terms of their level of decision-making, the options open to them, and what you need to do to help them make better decisions.
Here 4 […]
The way you think, evaluate, and make your decisions drives your options for action. These are inextricably linked together. The perspectives and mindset that you approach a situation with constrains the set of choices for decision-making, and ultimately your options for what actions you can take.
Considering that the greatest impediment to change is our habits, being able to shift your […]
Being focused and present with your clients is a great start. But that just means you’re here.
If you really want to build successful client relationships, you have to go beyond just being present.
So, what’s next?
The next step is building a connection with your client, or rapport.
Rapport is, by dictionary definition, a sympathetic, empathetic connection with another.
Now, what […]
This article was originally posted on May 11, 2018, and has been updated.
Do you think since you’ve said the words you intended, you’ve communicated effectively?
Think again.
One of the most common refrains heard from leaders, managers, and top professionals is, “I don’t know why they don’t get it, […]
I am sure you have encountered this situation before. You give your client or colleague the absolute right answer – and instead of being grateful, they simply do not appreciate, respect, nor recognize the value of your solutions, work, or contribution to them.
We all know that there is nothing better than a meaningful, high value, high impact relationship where people […]
In the constant swirl of activity and demands in life and work today, do you ever lose track of what really matters most?
One of the biggest challenges for the leaders, top professionals, and senior executives that I work with is keeping their focus and efforts on their most important priorities and outcomes.
The first question to start every meeting […]
Many highly trained technical experts of all kinds – IT professionals, engineers, lawyers, doctors, architects, and other sophisticated experts – know the answers to their clients’ issues before the clients even know what their issue is.
The problem is that until a client trusts you to take care of them – especially in an area they don’t even know how to […]
Virtually everything that matters comes back to the quality of your relationships. Whether that is with clients, colleagues, your boss, suppliers, friends, spouse, or children, knowing what would make the relationship better is extremely valuable to know.
What do you believe is the single most powerful, universal, effective driving force of the best client relationships? The seven most common answers – […]