As a new organizer, even if you’re confident about your organizing skills, communicating effectively with clients and prospects can sometimes be challenging. Today’s guest blogger describes three ways to quickly establish rapport with your clients for a successful working relationship.

I’ve come across my fair share of clients in my time in the organization industry. From the overbearing clients who think they know more about your trade than you do, to the squirrely client whom you’re pretty sure is hardly listening to a word you say and only agreeing with you so that the meeting will end. If there is one thing I’ve learned that is common across all clients, it’s the importance of working with your client to achieve results.

Gauge Your Client’s Experience

If your client is experienced in the area that you’re working with them in, treat them accordingly. For example, I’ve worked with a client who used to specialize in storage auctions. He had ample experience with a lot of the storage terms I was throwing around so I did my best not to talk down to him. Speaking in layman’s terms can come off as condescending if your client already has experience with the industry.

Know Your Client’s Budget

If you’re working off of a contract you will probably know roughly what your client is willing to spend. Sometimes there are grey areas where you might have the opportunity to purchase extra equipment or provide extra services for a cost. Work out with them beforehand exactly how much they are willing to spend and don’t ever make a move unless you’ve discussed it with them before.

Listen to Their Input

This is perhaps the most important aspect of working with someone. In situations where you’re brought on as an expert in a certain field, it can be tempting to assume that you have all the answers. That might even be a safe assumption to make, depending on the situation. But another person has still hired you, so you have an obligation to serve their needs and address their concerns. If they have a recommendation that they would like to see fulfilled, it is in your best interest to either make it happen or explain why it is not feasible because of time or budget constraints. You should always do your best to meet your customer’s needs.

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