How to Avoid Miscommunications with Clients

Posted on 27 March, 2020

For any business, communication is one of the most important factors when it comes to building a great relationship with clients. Business leaders should be able to cultivate a well-working relationship with their clients that ends with clear lines of communication. However, not every business leader reaches this level as business picks up and daily operations take over and miscommunications become more common.

Avoiding Client Miscommunications

So, how can you avoid miscommunications with clients? Doing so can only help in keeping uncomfortable situations at bay while increasing the chances of upholding a strong relationship. Here are some tips to take heed of when looking to keep miscommunication low.

Be Transparent

As a business owner, you know it’s in not only your best interest but your clients’ as well when it comes to being upfront and honest about every component of a business relationship. One way this can be upended is promising more than you can on a deal or in an ongoing relationship. While making big plans for the future and wanting to succeed together are great notions, it doesn’t help to over-promise and under-deliver.

Transparency is one of the most important factors in a healthy relationship with clients. When a client asks about your capabilities in a project, answer truthfully and keep from sugarcoating your shortcomings. This opens up the opportunity to have a discussion with the client to see how you can work together and come up with a solution.

If a customer feels that you have underperformed or that you made promises you couldn’t keep, they may feel inclined to bring claims against you as a business. Claims related to errors and omissions and negligence can sink a business or at least damage it while trying to move forward. While having professional liability insurance is one way to keep risks low and legal exposures limited, using transparency and honesty can help to boost a solid working relationship with a client.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Business owners and service providers always want to appear to be on top of things, understanding all the ins and outs of a client’s needs. But, realistically, this isn’t the case. When you first sit down with a client, be sure to ask as many questions as possible to see what they need help on and what is readily available to them on your end.

Good questions can help to pursue honest answers that only enhance knowledge around a project. Don’t be afraid to put a question out there that causes the client to have to be honest as well, as transparency works both ways.

Come To Terms on Contracts

To most clients, the final issue to handle is making sure everything is written down and delivered upon. This is where a clearly written contract that details every aspect of a proposed project can not only keep everyone on the same page, but also helps to keep any potential disputes away. The terms of a contract have the final say when disagreements come up, so being sure to work with clients on what is included in one and getting their okay will help keep liabilities and confusion low.

About Byrnes Agency

At Byrnes Agency, we offer insurance solutions that can be tailored to meet your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for personal policies or commercial coverage, we have the right coverage for you. To learn more about our products, contact us today at one of our two locations.

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United States

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