What are some common communication mistakes that professional organizers should avoid?

I agree with this 100%. Active listening is so important and remembering that it’s all about the clients, not about us. Another huge aspect of listening is listening to what clients are not saying as much as what they are. It doesn’t mean making assumptions but the more you communicate and work in different homes, the more you learn about the gaps in what they actually tell you.

One of the most common mistakes I see in the industry is professional organisers who do not meet a client before agreeing to do work for them. It's important to meet a client in their home environment before doing any work. Firstly to ensure you have the skillset to work for them. Many clients have complex needs (disabilities, hoarding disorder etc). Taking on work you are not experienced to undertake can put you at risk (an example being floors collapsing when you start removing items in a home which is very cluttered). It can also put the client at risk if they have complex mental health issues as you are not trained to understand these.

It's really important to ask the client lots of questions about their situation and to understand fully what their needs are. Taking notes, photographs (with their permission) also helps. Repeating back to them what you believe their priorities are and following up with a written proposal is also critical to ensure you are aligned. Using clear and simple language to explain the work to be undertaken and the costs involved is key. No customers like surprises when it comes to costs. Being as clear as possible about the costs upfront is super important. Continued clear communication during the project is also important to ensure the impact of any delays or additional areas added to the scope are agreed.

Pointing out what's not included, verbally and in writing, is as critical as pointing out what is included when it comes to managing client expectations.

A game changer for me and my clients supporting their after-session work was when I asked *them* how and when they wanted me to follow up. I gave options of email or text, and asked around time frames for me to check in to follow up. When they could help create the feedback and follow up loop on their own terms, they were more engaged in their "homework" and in sharing their updates.

At the end of the day you want your client to have a brilliant experience at all stages of the customer journey. Having a clearly planned out communication strategy is important - having standard emails that go out helps to make this efficient. But it's also important to add in the personal touches like a phone call or a handwritten note too.

I have learned not to give up on getting those reviews and testimonials. Many of us have automated requests that go out after a project is complete, or we ask each client utilizing one specific method (email / text) only. We must remember that our clients are disorganized and busy and that’s why they came to us in the first place. If at first you don’t succeed in getting that review, either try again at a different time or through a different avenue, acknowledging that you know they are busy but it would mean so much to you and your business. I throw in that it takes about “60 seconds.” And do not forget to give them a direct ljnk to where you want them to leave the review - make it as easy as possible.

Getting reviews and testimonials can be hard work and not everyone will give you one, even if they think you did a brilliant job. Privacy is a big concern for some clients and they may not want to advertise the fact they've used a professional organising service. There are ways around this though - by asking for them to write something without their name that you can use in your social media feed. Personally I have found the best time to ask for a testimonial is at the end of the service - when the outcome is very fresh. Also you can use reciprocity - a small gift or hand written note.

In what is becoming an increasingly competitive market being able to differentiate yourself is important. It's hard to communicate your value or benefits if you're not clear on who your target market is. Before you start a professional organising business, make sure you are clear on this.

I like to ask my potential clients how they prefer to be contacted (email, phone, text) and get their explicit permission to text them. Texting can seem pretty personal and somewhat invasive to someone you don’t really know yet.

Consider how you'll be creating and implementing boundaries. Setting boundaries allows better focus and concentration. Boundaries bring peace of mind. Example: Being bombarded with work-related messages on a holiday weekend or after hours feel like an invasion of your personal time. It's helpful to communicate in advance what your preferences are (text, email, voicemail) and when clients can expect replies.

Communicating via WhatsApp groups.As entire day is busy so teammates, executives hardly find time to check important messages via WhatsApp groups.Sometimes many executives are being penalized also even if they're checking official messages.Managers ,HoD's must send a mail to the Senior Managers as it becomes their duty to convey and train any important information been given to Team mates.