Tuesday, June 17, 2008
How to Lose Clients
I recently had an experience with a company wanting to hire me, and their behavior has forever impacted my decision ever work with them. Here are the events as they occurred:
* Received an unsolicited phone call and they left a voicemail.
* I returned the call in 2 hours leaving a detailed message of my availability.
* Two days elapse and I leave another message.
* Contact calls next day and urgently wants information saying it’s my fault time slipped away. (Color me surprised!)
* Hesitantly, I submit the requested information 24-hours prior to the deadline.
* No further word from potential client to date. She had promised to get back to me in a week.
I know, I know. You’ve already figured out what went wrong. If you want to lose a client, then feel free to: not have timely follow-up, not leave very specific information on voicemails (this helps eliminate placing additional calls), not follow through on agreements.
Put into practice an essential lesson—KEEP YOUR WORD—do what you say you will do! If you are a team leader, then hold your team responsible for exhibiting this behavior.
Until next time...live like you mean it!
Marjorie