I read a great post on Freelance Switch blog today about finding your perfect client and it got me to thinking. Do we act as perfect clients?
We are all looking for the perfect clients to work with, the type of clients that cause us to enjoy our work and feel a sense of pride in the jobs that we do. My perfect client would be able to afford my fees, not grumble about the cost of my fees, and listen to what I say and implement the advice that I give them, but I wonder, am I a perfect client. Do I grumble about the fees of other businesses? Do I listen to what they say and implement the suggestion they give me?
There is the law of reciprocity, what I put out, returns to me. Do I have the right to expect to work with perfect clients, when I am not an perfect client myself? Do I need I have the right to expect of others what I am not doing myself? Is it time to look at how I do business with others, not just from the giving end but also the receiving end?
I try my best to treat people the best that I can. I work hard to understand where people are coming from and keep in mind that they are different from me. Not everyone sees things that way that I do, and this is all right.
So how do I make sure that I am a perfect client?
- Pays my invoices on time
- Pay providers what they are worth
- Don’t bicker of fees
- Submit information needed in a timely fashion
- Return phone calls
- Be polite and understanding
- Being clear about my needs
- Not expecting miracles
- Understanding the process and being knowledgeable
- Being patient
I am sure that are a host of other ways that I can be an perfect clients. These are just some of my thoughts.
Are you a perfect client?
What makes you think so?
What other do you think you can be an perfect client?
