Three Easy Ways to Improve Client Relations using Negotiation Skills
Client relationships are essential to any business regardless of what industry or sector you're in. Sometimes it can be difficult to maintain client relationships, however, there are some easy methods that you can put into practise to ensure that your clients stay happy, giving your business the boost it needs!
In any business, client or customer work will have a significant impact on the success of an organisation. In B2B companies, client interaction and relationships are so important and will be the reason why a company succeeds or fails.
Every client relationship is different, some are friendlier than others, some are more straight to the point than others – no client is the same. A lack of client relationship maintenance can lead to a disappointed client and poor relationship. This will negatively affect your company both in the short and long run. One unhappy client can quickly spread news about your company and put off other potential clients.
1. Be Available and Make Time for your Client
Some clients might simply want a weekly report; however, other clients may need on-call help. Being more than just an email address is essential if you want your relationship with a client to be more than just business. Video calls, person to person coffee’s give everything a more personal touch, making the client feel like they’re your most important client. Simply helping them out on small problems after work hours can reduce the stress from the project in the long run because your client will trust you.
Gaining your client’s trust is fundamental to any great client relationship, and sometimes it doesn’t require taking your client away on a fancy ski trip (although that would help!), but being free to help your client with the small things will certainly go a long way. Being positive can lead to a ‘flow of conversation between you and your client which is what leads to relationships’ – simple!
2. Negotiate
There are a few skills that separate the average from the best business women and men, and one of those is negotiation. Some say that negotiation is more of a talent than a skill, however, there are numerous ways to improve your negotiation ability, and once you’ve got it, you won’t lose it. There are expert negotiation training companies such as 'The Gap Partnership' that are able to give you the right insight and tools to use when communicating with your client – so you both come out as winners which is what the ultimate goal of any business-client relationship should be.
Negotiation isn’t about coming out on top, especially when negotiating with a client. Take a step back and listen, understand what the client’s problem is and what they want from you – that’s basics. When you start assuming certain ideals with your client, that’s when you put your client relationship at risk because you won’t be providing what your client really wants. When negotiating with a client, it’s imperative that you’re 100% honest and transparent because any dirty tricks or behind the scenes tactics that might benefit you will only catch up with you in the long term and dismantle your client relationship.
3. Share a Vision with your Client
There’s nothing more motivating than chasing a goal, and that’s something you should do alongside your client. When developing your client relationship, you should always determine what the end goal of your project is so everyone can get on the same page. Furthermore, when you share a vision it gives the client a certain level of confidence and comfort because they know that you are aiming and working towards the same end goal as they are. Be optimistic and clear about your ideas for the future and about possible solutions so your client is always in the know-how.
Maintaining positive client relationships can model the future of your company and can be the underlying driving factor of your business’ success. Good client relationships can lead to further opportunities down the line, therefore by tweaking a few ways in which you manage your clients, you will be able to take your business to the next level.