Planning for Enhanced Client Interactions
If you’re like me, there is only one reason you’d start a road trip without first fueling the car—because the service station several miles down the road offers lower prices than the gas station around the corner. So, you’ve worked a stop into your itinerary. Smart move.
Yet strangely, service professionals who are great planners in most areas of their lives, often “wing it” when it comes to their relationship & revenue generation efforts.
Why is this acceptable? And could enhanced planning for interactions possibly net better results?
Preparing for interactions with client influencers, decision makers and colleagues is CRITICAL because it will help you to enter conversations:
- Have thought through the goals and anticipated outcomes of the interactions
- Know what information you’d like to capture and share
- Have several thoughtful questions prepared, should the opportunity arise
- Have a few stories or examples to share that will illuminate your points
- Be prepared to suggest possible next steps to ensure the conversation continues
When you take the time to prepare for interactions, most professionals feel considerably more confident and comfortable entering said conversations. You will be more thoughtful, listen more attentively, ask better questions, and are able to adapt more easily. These are pretty dramatic results as compared to how we feel when you “wing it”! Planning interactions will net better results, and the process doesn’t have to be complicated!
Get Started on Interaction Preparedness Today
Start with the end in mind when doing your planning…what are the goals and objectives for the interaction?
In other words, what are the hoped for outcomes from the discussion? With this in mind, follow our Planning for Enhanced Client Interactions bullet list to help ensure you’re ready:
- Have thought through the goals and anticipated outcomes of the interactions ✅
- Know what information you’d like to capture and share ✅
- Have several thoughtful questions prepared, should the opportunity arise ✅
- Have a few stories or examples to share that will illuminate your points ✅
- Be prepared to suggest possible next steps to ensure the conversation continues ✅
“Rehearse” your game plan and talking points in your head while getting dressed, commuting, or in office.
We cover all this and more in our Relationship Xpansion™ skill-building experience.
Our workshops and toolkits will help you ready your planning notes and guide your preparation for effective, meaningful interactions.
