Who among us hasn’t found ourselves losing patience with a particularly challenging customer or client? What seems pretty simple and “self-explanatory” to us can sometimes be confusing and troubling to one of our prospects or customers. As much as we might want to tell them firmly to “get a grip”–sometimes, they just need a little guidance and hand-holding and they might develop into loyal and steady customers.
In one of my incarnations, I do a lot of work and interaction with people from all over the world. This means that there is often a challenge when it comes to language, culture, and business practices. As much as I am sometimes tempted to lose my patience and really do wish that everyone would just follow directions or see things MY way, I do have to take into account that we are dealing with some pretty major potential barriers. As aggravating as it may be, as much initial time as it may take, it can really be worth the effort to slow down and provide some hand-holding to customers and clients so that they can feel comfortable with us and we can develop a good working relationship as we struggle through the details.
I’m sure I’m not alone in admitting that patience isn’t always my strong suit–especially in the midst of the stress of business stuff–but what seems easy to me may just be because I am submersed in it all the time. If we are going to grow our businesses and expand our customer base, we are going to be working with more and more people who are not necessarily comfortable with how we do things. It is really an opportunity for us to show our calm and confident side and guide people along with some reassurance. Our businesses will benefit from our patience and attention in the long run.
Also: Make Ordering and Purchasing Easy
It’s Okay to Say: “I Don’t Have Time to Do That Today”
Hostility and Resentment Have No Place in Business