Comments on: Do You Hold Your Clients Up to High Standards http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/ Be Irresistible Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Spreading the Words, 1/19/2007 | Word Sell Blog http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-87749 Spreading the Words, 1/19/2007 | Word Sell Blog Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:41:27 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-87749 [...] Corporate Communication, Valuable Links Liz Strauss on vendor expections. You get what you pay for.Liz Strauss on client expectations. The client is not always right.Bill Wren on the virtues of having a point. The eternal struggle [...] [...] Corporate Communication, Valuable Links Liz Strauss on vendor expections. You get what you pay for.Liz Strauss on client expectations. The client is not always right.Bill Wren on the virtues of having a point. The eternal struggle [...]

]]> By: Gitr’s WoW Blog - World of Warcraft and More » Blog Post Titles Make all the Difference in Newsreaders http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-3622 Gitr’s WoW Blog - World of Warcraft and More » Blog Post Titles Make all the Difference in Newsreaders Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:07:13 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-3622 [...] The P.T. Barnum Guide to Online Publicity [...] [...] The P.T. Barnum Guide to Online Publicity [...]

]]> By: Whitney http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-3277 Whitney Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:28:37 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-3277 Liz, you've categorized the groups nicely. I'm happy to provide occasional handholding -- everyone needs it once in a while, especially when they're venturing into new territory. Some need some extra encouragement at the beginning of a meeting in order to settle in and fully participate in the conversation. And you are right -- they do in time contribute their own invigorating, creative energy. These groups are the majority that I've worked with. The handful (literally) of outright needy folks were enough to teach me some valuable business lessons. Especially when I realized that I was not only being drained of energy to give THEM but that I was also being drained of energy to give my OTHER clients. I have the names of several counterparts who are willing to work with the outright needy -- they're good at it and they give their clients exactly what they're needing. I also have a long list of excellent workshops, conferences, and online courses that I recommend, because I'm reasonably certain that these clients will find in those learning experiences the confidence that they're wanting to find. At least I can walk away knowing that I'm not leaving the client empty-handed. Liz, you’ve categorized the groups nicely. I’m happy to provide occasional handholding — everyone needs it once in a while, especially when they’re venturing into new territory. Some need some extra encouragement at the beginning of a meeting in order to settle in and fully participate in the conversation. And you are right — they do in time contribute their own invigorating, creative energy. These groups are the majority that I’ve worked with.

The handful (literally) of outright needy folks were enough to teach me some valuable business lessons. Especially when I realized that I was not only being drained of energy to give THEM but that I was also being drained of energy to give my OTHER clients. I have the names of several counterparts who are willing to work with the outright needy — they’re good at it and they give their clients exactly what they’re needing. I also have a long list of excellent workshops, conferences, and online courses that I recommend, because I’m reasonably certain that these clients will find in those learning experiences the confidence that they’re wanting to find. At least I can walk away knowing that I’m not leaving the client empty-handed.

]]> By: Whitney http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-85753 Whitney Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:28:00 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-85753 Liz, you've categorized the groups nicely. I'm happy to provide occasional handholding -- everyone needs it once in a while, especially when they're venturing into new territory. Some need some extra encouragement at the beginning of a meeting in order to settle in and fully participate in the conversation. And you are right -- they do in time contribute their own invigorating, creative energy. These groups are the majority that I've worked with. The handful (literally) of outright needy folks were enough to teach me some valuable business lessons. Especially when I realized that I was not only being drained of energy to give THEM but that I was also being drained of energy to give my OTHER clients. I have the names of several counterparts who are willing to work with the outright needy -- they're good at it and they give their clients exactly what they're needing. I also have a long list of excellent workshops, conferences, and online courses that I recommend, because I'm reasonably certain that these clients will find in those learning experiences the confidence that they're wanting to find. At least I can walk away knowing that I'm not leaving the client empty-handed. Liz, you’ve categorized the groups nicely. I’m happy to provide occasional handholding — everyone needs it once in a while, especially when they’re venturing into new territory. Some need some extra encouragement at the beginning of a meeting in order to settle in and fully participate in the conversation. And you are right — they do in time contribute their own invigorating, creative energy. These groups are the majority that I’ve worked with.

The handful (literally) of outright needy folks were enough to teach me some valuable business lessons. Especially when I realized that I was not only being drained of energy to give THEM but that I was also being drained of energy to give my OTHER clients. I have the names of several counterparts who are willing to work with the outright needy — they’re good at it and they give their clients exactly what they’re needing. I also have a long list of excellent workshops, conferences, and online courses that I recommend, because I’m reasonably certain that these clients will find in those learning experiences the confidence that they’re wanting to find. At least I can walk away knowing that I’m not leaving the client empty-handed.

]]> By: Liz Strauss http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-3266 Liz Strauss Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:27:39 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-3266 Hi Whitmey, Some folks need an occasional hand holding, Some folks need a hand for a bit at every session. Some folks are outright needy. The last bunch are the ones who I have a problem with. They wear and take my energy. I end up with nothing left to give them. The first two groups brighten up and give back. Not the last one. Hi Whitmey,
Some folks need an occasional hand holding, Some folks need a hand for a bit at every session. Some folks are outright needy. The last bunch are the ones who I have a problem with. They wear and take my energy. I end up with nothing left to give them. The first two groups brighten up and give back. Not the last one.

]]> By: Liz Strauss http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-85752 Liz Strauss Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:27:00 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-85752 Hi Whitmey, Some folks need an occasional hand holding, Some folks need a hand for a bit at every session. Some folks are outright needy. The last bunch are the ones who I have a problem with. They wear and take my energy. I end up with nothing left to give them. The first two groups brighten up and give back. Not the last one. Hi Whitmey,
Some folks need an occasional hand holding, Some folks need a hand for a bit at every session. Some folks are outright needy. The last bunch are the ones who I have a problem with. They wear and take my energy. I end up with nothing left to give them. The first two groups brighten up and give back. Not the last one.

]]> By: Liz Strauss http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-3257 Liz Strauss Wed, 17 Jan 2007 21:02:50 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-3257 Hi Brad, I bet they all have the same sense of what makes work work and play play as you do. :) Hi Brad,
I bet they all have the same sense of what makes work work and play play as you do. :)

]]> By: Liz Strauss http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-85751 Liz Strauss Wed, 17 Jan 2007 21:02:00 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-85751 Hi Brad, I bet they all have the same sense of what makes work work and play play as you do. :) Hi Brad,
I bet they all have the same sense of what makes work work and play play as you do. :)

]]> By: Whitney http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-3253 Whitney Wed, 17 Jan 2007 20:20:51 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-3253 I am often hired by individuals to critique large writing projects -- a series of smaller pieces, or chapters of a book delivered weekly, or some such. The parameters of these arrangements are defined as individual editing sessions...when you send me work and I sit down to critique and/or edit it, I turn on the clock. When I'm done, I turn off the clock. What sometimes happens is that I get daily e-mails that are essentially appeals for emotional reassurance and hand-holding. In the worst cases, the e-mails are an attempt to initiate some kind of quasi-therapy session. This is off the clock, of course, and I know these people would be upset if I said that I needed to start billing them for the time because I'm spending 1 to 2 hours a day responding just to their e-mails. I do the best I can to deflect: I refer them to sites or books that they can read daily for that sustenance and reassurance they're seeking. But the deflections don't always work, and I wind up drained by either giving them what they're looking for or trying to find a way to diplomatically keep things in check. For these kinds of projects alone, I've taken to doing tightly defined trial periods. It's been effective at determining whether a prospect is going to be easy to work with, or is going to be demanding and draining. It's also a good way to find out if there's simple chemistry between me and a prospect, or if we just don't connect. I am often hired by individuals to critique large writing projects — a series of smaller pieces, or chapters of a book delivered weekly, or some such. The parameters of these arrangements are defined as individual editing sessions…when you send me work and I sit down to critique and/or edit it, I turn on the clock. When I’m done, I turn off the clock.

What sometimes happens is that I get daily e-mails that are essentially appeals for emotional reassurance and hand-holding. In the worst cases, the e-mails are an attempt to initiate some kind of quasi-therapy session. This is off the clock, of course, and I know these people would be upset if I said that I needed to start billing them for the time because I’m spending 1 to 2 hours a day responding just to their e-mails. I do the best I can to deflect: I refer them to sites or books that they can read daily for that sustenance and reassurance they’re seeking. But the deflections don’t always work, and I wind up drained by either giving them what they’re looking for or trying to find a way to diplomatically keep things in check.

For these kinds of projects alone, I’ve taken to doing tightly defined trial periods. It’s been effective at determining whether a prospect is going to be easy to work with, or is going to be demanding and draining. It’s also a good way to find out if there’s simple chemistry between me and a prospect, or if we just don’t connect.

]]> By: Whitney http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-85750 Whitney Wed, 17 Jan 2007 20:20:00 +0000 http://www.lizstrauss.com/2007/01/16/everyones-business/do-you-hold-your-clients-up-to-high-standards/#comment-85750 I am often hired by individuals to critique large writing projects -- a series of smaller pieces, or chapters of a book delivered weekly, or some such. The parameters of these arrangements are defined as individual editing sessions...when you send me work and I sit down to critique and/or edit it, I turn on the clock. When I'm done, I turn off the clock. What sometimes happens is that I get daily e-mails that are essentially appeals for emotional reassurance and hand-holding. In the worst cases, the e-mails are an attempt to initiate some kind of quasi-therapy session. This is off the clock, of course, and I know these people would be upset if I said that I needed to start billing them for the time because I'm spending 1 to 2 hours a day responding just to their e-mails. I do the best I can to deflect: I refer them to sites or books that they can read daily for that sustenance and reassurance they're seeking. But the deflections don't always work, and I wind up drained by either giving them what they're looking for or trying to find a way to diplomatically keep things in check. For these kinds of projects alone, I've taken to doing tightly defined trial periods. It's been effective at determining whether a prospect is going to be easy to work with, or is going to be demanding and draining. It's also a good way to find out if there's simple chemistry between me and a prospect, or if we just don't connect. I am often hired by individuals to critique large writing projects — a series of smaller pieces, or chapters of a book delivered weekly, or some such. The parameters of these arrangements are defined as individual editing sessions…when you send me work and I sit down to critique and/or edit it, I turn on the clock. When I’m done, I turn off the clock.

What sometimes happens is that I get daily e-mails that are essentially appeals for emotional reassurance and hand-holding. In the worst cases, the e-mails are an attempt to initiate some kind of quasi-therapy session. This is off the clock, of course, and I know these people would be upset if I said that I needed to start billing them for the time because I’m spending 1 to 2 hours a day responding just to their e-mails. I do the best I can to deflect: I refer them to sites or books that they can read daily for that sustenance and reassurance they’re seeking. But the deflections don’t always work, and I wind up drained by either giving them what they’re looking for or trying to find a way to diplomatically keep things in check.

For these kinds of projects alone, I’ve taken to doing tightly defined trial periods. It’s been effective at determining whether a prospect is going to be easy to work with, or is going to be demanding and draining. It’s also a good way to find out if there’s simple chemistry between me and a prospect, or if we just don’t connect.

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