How DoI love Thee....a business person would do well to follow the tips of Elizabeth Barrett Browning - GWCC

Have you told your clients lately that you love them? It is February, the month of Valentines!!! This is the perfect time to start….but not with those exact words. The proverb “Actions speak louder than words” is the best rule to follow for the savvy business person.

Building a client relationship takes time, attention and dedication. You have the wooing period, the engagement and the marriage. You want this client marriage to last. How do you do it?

Start with those three little words or maybe five.

“Thank you (fill in first name)” or “thank you for your business.” These words go a long way in a client relationship, yet we rarely say them. Some business people: banks tellers, restaurant servers and retail are more prone to saying thank you because they have the open opportunity at the point of service. Consultants, accountants, lawyers, realtors and other businesses that have ongoing relationships say thank you in the beginning when the contract is signed. Think of the words “thank you” as having an expiration date. Set up the opportunity to say the words to your client.

Be attentive

Relationships thrive with attention. In business this means: promptly returning phone calls, responding to e-mail in a timely manner, giving focused attention when you are meeting in person, giving proper introductions when appropriate and actively listening to your client when they are speaking.

Communicate

Relationships thrive with good communication. This takes time and effort; and it is worth it. Timely communications are key in all relationships. You have certain windows of opportunity to convey information – don’t delay. Even when the information is not “good news” it is important to keep the information channel open. When passing along “good news,” enjoy the moment.

Be appreciative

Show your client appreciation with acts of kindness. This is kindness in the form of social skills- like remembering important dates and facts, keeping track of conversations and following up, remembering likes and dislikes.

Thank you for your time, attention and dedication and Happy Valentines Day!

Joan R. Stokely (jrs@thesocietyofdiplomacy.com) is the President of The Society of Diplomacy, Inc., a protocol and etiquette consulting firm. We offer extraordinary training programs for corporate professionals who desire greater success in their careers. Increase your knowledge of business protocol and etiquette, your corporate image, international intelligence and social skills by attending programs specifically designed for you.

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