Education is Paving the Way for a Positive Client Relationship

by Mollie Malone.

Growing up, wearing a uniform and attending a weekly church service were routine behavior for me. An all-girls private school may seem daunting to many of you, but this education has fostered my drive for a career in communications. I believe that my experience in an all-female school taught me good client relationship skills. The phrase “communication is key” has been coined to benefit relationships, friendships and employee relations. While I have always believed this phrase and tried to use it in my everyday life, I never realized how it would become the base of my entire career.  

This year, I participated in the Higher Education Partnership of Alabama’s Higher Education Day. Seeing students and government officials come together to agree on the importance of higher education has led me to reflect on what my education has taught me. One of the best things I have learned from my education is how good communication builds good client relationships. Taking all this into account, I would like to share a few pointers for fostering client relationships. 

Positivity 

The first suggestion I have is to always maintain a positive attitude when communicating with your client. Depending on the nature of your work, you will most likely get some feedback, criticism and suggestions. That’s OK! Your goal is to make your client happy. So, take those comments like a champ. Put on a smile, nod your head and listen to how you can make them more satisfied. 

Communication 

Another suggestion I have for a healthy client relationship is constant communication. As an account manager at Capstone Agency, I have weekly meetings with my client. In addition, we send over a meeting agenda in advance and a meeting recap afterward. This process allows for a minimum of three opportunities to hear from my client each week. Not only does this get us the answers to questions we have, but my entire team and I get to know our clients and their needs better.  

Tone 

My final suggestion for improving a client relationship is the tone you use with your client. That relationship does not have to be bland! I heavily encourage a casual and kind tone of communication. I believe it is important to become more comfortable with your client, especially if you have been working with your client for a long time. For example, asking your client representatives about their week, chatting about the weather or bonding over a shared idea are just a few ways in which you can nurture a better relationship.  

I hope that these tips for communication can help you improve your client relationships and foster a better “normal” for communication. Roll Tide! 

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