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Client meeting not going well? Here’s what to do

Have you ever been in a client meeting and sensed that it’s not going well?

If you have you wouldn’t be alone. In fact, I am sure it happens to all of us occasionally.

This article shares what to do if you are ever in this situation.

Is it me?

I have found that I have often learned the most from my mistakes rather than my successes.

Some years ago, I remember learning something new and I was super keen to share it with my client.

So, we got into our conversation, and he shared something that was very emotional for him. I immediately offered up a solution, which was just not the thing to do. 

To him, it felt like I was dismissing his problem that he had been vulnerable is sharing with me. He said I wasn’t listening, and he was right.

Sometimes, the reason a meeting is not going well is because of something we are doing or not doing. 

So, I check in with myself by asking:

*Am I not liking this client?

*Am I feeling frustrated or impatient with them?

*Am I being judgemental?

*Am I truly hearing them?

*Am I talking too much?

*Is my mind on other things/am I distracted?

*Am I coming from a kind, loving place?

*Does the meeting have a clear purpose that we both agreed on? 

By doing this you can see if you need to make any adjustments to your own thinking and behaviour or reset the tone between us. 

Is it my client?

Sometimes, you may be in a perfectly good place and doing all the right things. Yet you still sense things are not going well.

I ask myself some questions about my client:

*Do they want to be here?

*Do they have something on their mind they are not sharing?

*Are they fully engaged in our conversation?

*Do I have their permission to ask questions or share my thoughts?

Avoid taking it personally

In my experience it can take some clients a little while to relax into a meeting. Especially if it’s the first time we have spoken.

So, if they seem closed or standoffish the worse thing we can do is take it personally.

The truth is, it’s never personal.

The governing factor in what each of us experiences is thought. We feel our thinking, and our thinking then leads to how we behave.

If we take their thinking personally and as though it’s about us, things will only go downhill.

Often, the best thing we can do is remain present and clear-minded. 

From here we can either allow time for the client to settle into the meeting. Or if it seems right, gently ask if there is something on their mind they would like to share.

PS. You might also enjoy this post on trust building. Click here.

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John Dashfield spent 14 years as a self-employed adviser. Since 2006 he has been a coach, mentor and author helping advisers create transformations in their business and personal lives.

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John Dashfield spent 14 years as a self-employed adviser. Since 2006 he has been a coach, mentor and author helping advisers create transformations in their business and personal lives.

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