Clients - What They Want from You

A growing number of individuals are finding themselves called to help others and go on to fulfil this call by training to become a practitioner in one of the healing arts.

The range of conventional, traditional, holistic, complementary and alternative therapies is extensive with new thoughts on old themes being introduced almost daily. In some ways, the professional training undertaken to practice the therapy or therapies you have chosen, is the simple bit. Yes, I know there are lots of hours spent studying, lots of time dedicated to practical work, lots of supervision and lots of examinations but believe me, this was relatively easy to complete because there was some passion behind your purpose.

The fun starts when you hang up your sign and open for business. Some enlightened Professional Institutions are now including modules on practice management in their curriculum, which is a good thing. Many still don't. It doesn't matter how stunning your therapy skills are, if you have no clients to work with, your practice will not survive. You must learn how to manage cashflow, how to maximise your personal productivity, how to develop your client base and how, in due course, to appoint and manage staff.

Whether you are starting out on this path straight from school or college or whether this is a career change for you, know that practising any healing art is a wonderful offer to your community and your fellow man. I hope that my efforts to make the business side of practising your therapy "easy", will free your energy to do what you do best.

Remember that the success of any therapeutic intervention depends largely on the attitude of the therapist ? the client is greatly affected by your intention, attitude and expectation. Be impeccable, know what you are capable of achieving and always walk the talk. Set high standards for yourself, even when you are off-duty clients have expectations of you. A successful therapeutic practice depends on clients being willing to trust and refer. They will not do this if they see you doing your supermarket shopping or filling up the fuel tank of your car whilst wearing your whites. You know all of this but you will also find, if you haven't already, how easy it is to forget and lapse into easier habits!

There is nothing quite like working in your own business, calling the shots, making the decisions and knowing that the profit is all yours. There is also another side to being an entrepreneur which is carrying the risk, isolation, being the last to be paid, playing many roles some of which you feel ill-equipped to handle. I wonder, is it still sounding like such a good idea?

8 times out of 10, expertise in your field is not enough to ensure business success. In fact the more diligent you are in your technical work, the more pride you take in doing a good job, the more likely your business is to fail in the first year. In his book, "The E-Myth Revisited" Michael Gerber refers to people such as you as "The Technician". You have technical expertise in your chosen field. Every business needs technicians but problems can and often do arise when the technician gets his hand on the tiller and ends up steering the ship.

Successful businesses exchange value to customers for money. Part of this is doing a good job but there are other aspects to supplying value to clients:

The trading experience ? is it easy, pleasurable and consistent?

Follow up service ? is there any?

Product/Service ? is it what your clients want, when they want it and how they want it?

Yes, I know the technical expert within you is arguing with me as you read this. Yes, I know that receiving a wonderful treatment is important to your clients but it is only one ingredient in the recipe which produces a successful Private Practice.

Donnie Harrison is a Coach and Business mentor who specialises in working with clients who are setting up or building a Professional Private Practice, particularly in the healthcare sector - be it traditional, complementary or alternative. Further information from http://donnieharrison.com

---

Why Cant Microsoft Make Soft Packaging?

Why is it that Microsoft wants you to buy its... Read More

Make An Action Plan To Improve Customer Service

Customer Service is a critical factor for keeping your clients... Read More

Ten Ways to Help You Improve Your Customer Service

1. Stay in contact with customers on a regular basis.... Read More

How to Win the Hearts of Your Customers and Friends

Those of us doing business over the internet have to... Read More

5 Golden Online/Offline Business Rules To LIVE Or DIE By

Whether online or off, if you plan on running or... Read More

What Every Employee Should Know About How to Prevent Customer Service Conflicts

There are five techniques that have been proven to be... Read More

Do You Want More Profits? - Follow The Golden Rules Of Providing Good Customer Service

Last night I was at my computer and a Skype... Read More

Post Office, Incredible Lady Postmaster

There are two Post Offices that I routinely visit. One... Read More

Increase in Customer Sales = Increase in Customer Service

One of the most popular questions asked in online business... Read More

Basic Levels of Consumer Integrity that Presently Permeates Society

Reality is not always pretty. But here is a tad... Read More

Whats For Lunch?

As an entrepreneur, I'm always intrigued by small businesses, home-based... Read More

CRM = Customers (dont) Really Matter

CRM was supposed to bring companies closer to their clients.... Read More

Customer Service and Marketing that Works

Go into many businesses today and try and get service,... Read More

Customer Neglect

What have you done for your existing customers lately? Probably... Read More

More Customers - Watch those Little Things

Two situations, two perfectly acceptable experiences, but in one case,... Read More

How to Provide Instant Customer Service

Customer service is an essential component of any business. Clearly,... Read More

How To Build Stellar Client Relationships

Your opportunity to build a stellar client relationship starts with... Read More

Finding Out Why a Potential Customer is Calling On You

Our challenge as the business owner/sales person answering the telephone,... Read More

Treating the Customer Dissatisfaction Epidemic: How to Go Beyond Simply Masking the Symptoms

Corporations in every sector are spending more than ever before... Read More

Dealing with Disgruntled Customers

No matter how hard you try, in business you simply... Read More

Who Says the Customer is Always Right?

We all know the old adage, "The Customer is Always... Read More

4 Customer Service Mistakes Companies Should Avoid Making

1) Being placed on hold endlessly. Don't you just love... Read More

A White Paper: Profiting with Kindness

In 2002, there wasn't much interest for Kindness in business,... Read More

You MUST Sweat the Small Stuff

It's The Little Things That Make or Break a Small... Read More

Customer Service - How Good Are YOU?

At 8.30 am a wealthy client (on his way to... Read More

Retail Store U-Scan Machines: Self-Serve or Voluntary Part Time Job?

Do many of us realize that we are working an... Read More

Over Deliver - The Key to Customer Satisfaction

Client satisfaction starts with meeting or beating the contractual obligations... Read More

How To Boost Your Bottom Line With Two Little Words

I hate to sound like one of those cheesy get-rich-quick... Read More

Clients... and 38 ways to communicate with them

As Alan Weiss (guru to the savvy consultant) says: "It... Read More

Dealing with People - Words to Avoid

You probably realise how the wrong tone of voice and... Read More

5 Ways Customer Service Managers are Implementing to Increase Customer Focus

According to a Forum Corporation survey of commercial customers lost... Read More

It Is All About Customer Service!

In this day of terrible customer service, it should come... Read More

The History of CRM -- Moving Beyond the Customer Database

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is one of those magnificent concepts... Read More