{"id":13,"date":"2009-11-02T01:42:00","date_gmt":"2009-11-02T01:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/?p=13"},"modified":"2024-09-24T13:49:53","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T18:49:53","slug":"avoiding-five-preventable-pitfalls-to-solid-client-relationships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/avoiding-five-preventable-pitfalls-to-solid-client-relationships\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding Five Preventable Pitfalls to Solid Client Relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"13\" class=\"elementor elementor-13\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ce769fa elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ce769fa\" 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class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Avoiding Five Preventable Pitfalls to Solid Client Relationships<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c1117e elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"2c1117e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-fcfa45b elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/author\/lbwebmaster\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-user-circle\" 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10.1-33.9 21.4-57.5 29 7.3-12.1 14.4-25.7 19.9-40.2l10.6-28.1-20.6-21.8C69.7 314.1 48 282.2 48 240c0-88.2 93.3-160 208-160s208 71.8 208 160-93.3 160-208 160z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-comments\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a17d19d elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"a17d19d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"text-align:center;\u201d>\r\n<span class=\"bsf-rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-display-label\" prefix=\"Reading Time\">\n\t\t<\/span> <span class=\"bsf-rt-display-time\" reading_time=\"2\"><\/span> \n\t\t<span class=\"bsf-rt-display-postfix\" postfix=\"mins\"><\/span><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70a0327\" data-id=\"70a0327\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228f411 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"228f411\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/top5-300-qon9iqjr4wygra64zq2vf9eqhljdt84j0cp5ggmneo.png\" title=\"top5-300\" alt=\"top 5\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d5c2a84 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d5c2a84\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6b97ae23\" data-id=\"6b97ae23\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59d7be59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"59d7be59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3XRlOC5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-11285\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Dysfunctions-Team-1-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"5 Dysfunctions Cover\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Dysfunctions-Team-1-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Dysfunctions-Team-1-99x150.jpg 99w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Dysfunctions-Team-1.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=chicaexecuc0b-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0787960756\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" title=\"\"><span style=\"font-size: 85%;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\">If we consider the collaborative nature of our client relationships, teamwork is essential. So perhaps we can gain new insight into improving our client teamwork by examining our relationships through the lens of the Patrick Lencioni\u2019s book, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3XRlOC5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Five Dysfunctions of a Team<\/span><\/a>. The author offers this list obstacles to effective team performance.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11282 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/top5-300-300x300.png\" alt=\"top 5\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/top5-300-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/top5-300-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/top5-300.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>1. Inattention to Results<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\">2. Avoidance of Accountability<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\">3. Lack of Commitment<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\">4. Fear of Conflict<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\">5. Absence of trust <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\">Let\u2019s briefly explore each as they apply to maintaining client relationships.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;\">1. Inattention to Results:<\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\"> If your client is not realizing the desired value from your relationship, you could be on the way out.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;\"><br \/>2. Avoidance of Accountability:<\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\"> Stepping up and making the first phone call when an unexpected challenge arises, is the difference between lemons and lemonade. <\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;\"><br \/>3. Lack of Commitment:<\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\"> While it likely isn\u2019t true, your commitment should be such that your clients feel that they are your most valuable relationship.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;\"><br \/>4. Fear of Conflict:<\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\"> Failure to confront the critical and brutal issues for the sake of perceived harmony will eventually lead to damaging the very harmony you had hoped to maintain. Only when you can demonstrate that you will regularly place the interests of your client ahead of your own without compromise, your relationship will grow to trusted advisor status. This may take the form of opting out of additional work that you lack qualifications. Or you may need to put your relationship at risk by pointing out their flaws or errors. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;\">5. Absence of trust:<\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\"> Tending to #4 will do wonders for building a level of trust. In its absence, your ongoing relationship is jeopardized.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;\">How would you score?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: verdana;\">Consider your most valuable client relationship. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your relationship for each of the five areas of potential dysfunction? Where are your most significant opportunities for improvement of this critical relationship? If they have been suffering in silence might your revenue be at risk?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If we consider the collaborative nature of our client relationships, teamwork is essential. So perhaps we can gain new insight into improving our client teamwork by examining our relationships through the lens of the Patrick Lencioni\u2019s book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. The author offers this list obstacles to effective team performance. 1. Inattention [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[24,106],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communication-skills","category-customer-attraction"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/top5-300.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1I2Yr-d","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}