Business Mentoring – Time To Deliver

As professionals, time is our key asset. We want to be outstanding – not just in our mastery of time, but by providing excellent service to clients. Mastery of the time to deliver helps us build an exceptional reputation – which means that clients come to us, saving us further marketing time and resources.

Do you feel you never have enough time to perform all the tasks involved in delivering on schedule for your clients? Then make the time with these simple tips…

1. Client satisfaction is your income.

The success of your business depends on the strength of your client relationships. As it is not possible to build excellent relationships with absolutely everybody, it helps to explicitly prioritise relationships, not tasks. We are always saying ‘No’ to somebody – implicitly or explicitly.

2. Implement “focus time”

When fee-earners can get on with work without interruption; even from you!

3. When estimating work, add a 20% contingency

Which can either be used to deal with the unexpected time required – or to delight the client by exceeding expectations.

4. Carry a file of buffer tasks

That can be done in the car while waiting for a client, in a restaurant while waiting for service, at the airport, or when appointments get canceled.

5. Drastically reduce meeting times.

Effective meetings don’t have to be long. A focused 30-to-60-minute session can achieve remarkable results, leaving everyone impressed and productive.

It is possible to have a very effective meeting in 30 minutes. Most clients (unless they have traveled long distances) will be impressed with a professionally run 30- 60-minute meeting.

6. Make more use of scheduled telephone meetings

Rather than seeing prospective clients up-front. Why travel to see a prospect who has not committed to using your services?

7. If a client requires a query answered immediately, ask them why

Respectfully and politely. Perhaps their deadline is driven by misunderstanding, or perhaps you will come to a better understanding of their business pressures, which may in turn create new opportunities in that niche.

What else would you add to this list?

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