BD tips and insights

Put clients first

Your clients will know when you put them first, and they’ll reward you – and your business – for doing so.

Here are some ways to know if you put clients first:

• You always show an interest in their business – not just when you’re looking for more business.
• You are brave about giving the client sound advice they may not want to hear.
• You frame advice in terms to which they can relate.
• You avoid jargon in your advice, and use language and metaphors which are familiar and comfortable for your client.
• You communicate with them in the style and via the media they prefer.
• You anticipate their needs.
• You maintain their confidence.
• You constantly watch out for their interests matter-by-matter and also at a broader level.
• You are clear about bad news – you don’t duck and weave.
• You understand their objectives and your role in advancing their interests.
• You care about the personal, business unit, and organisation-wide implications of the matters you deal with and advice you give.
• You are responsive to their needs and requests, including when it’s at some personal inconvenience to you.
• You promptly do what you promise.
• You care about their money and look after their investment in your services by helping them spend wisely with you.
• You seek their feedback.
• You are prepared to decline work around which they would have strong commercial sensitivities or see as conflicts.
• You are always looking for ways to improve.

For advice, workshops, and coaching to do better, or client surveys to help you understand how clients assess your performance, please get in touch.