Start by setting clear expectations from the outset. Be transparent about timelines, deliverables, and potential challenges. Listen actively to their needs and concerns, and ensure mutual understanding before moving forward. Maintain open, honest communication throughout the project, updating them regularly and addressing any issues early on. Avoid overpromising, and if setbacks occur, own them and provide immediate solutions. Consistency, reliability, and a collaborative approach are key to building a relationship where trust grows and conflicts are minimised.

Building rapport with new clients is all about open communication and setting clear expectations from the start. When potential conflicts arise, addressing them promptly and transparently can prevent misunderstandings and foster trust. Remember, your clients are looking for a partner in their journey; by actively listening and demonstrating empathy, you can turn challenges into opportunities for deeper collaboration. After all, strategic growth is a team effort, and together, we can unlock your financial potential!

Excellent topic to ponder upon! Building rapport takes time, one must understand this while being cognizant that ironically trust can erode in a snap. What’s trust though ? I may trust my partner with my life but not with a life saving surgery! Trust is contextual. Therefore to build s trusting relationship, it’s important to establish one’s value & utility early on as well as define role & expectations. Then ensuring that expectations are met slowly builds the secret sauce!

Conflicts are many fold: 1. Approach. Right at the start, before I present my solution, I always discuss possible approaches with clients. This gives me a good idea about the kind of solutioning routes that the client is comfortable and uncomfortable with. 2. Process: Sometimes clients are fine with the strategy but conflicts arise in execution. The client does things differently. Understand the ground realities and modify your execution style. 3. Values. You're at a client meeting and your client begins abusing you or your team. Or you find them exhibiting some other kind of unprofessional behavior. Don't react then. But sleep over it. If it doesn't match your values, begin the process of extricating yourself from the relationship.

The first thing is to understand the scope of works. Having understood these, it means following what you are required to do and nothing outside these. Whilst the project is on goi ng, whether you make a mistake or not, always be open with information that may affect your client's works or relationship. Never discuss any other client's business with another client how tempting it may be. The client wants the truth from you and that is the way to operate or behave. Never mind being removed from a project for stating the truth of the mistakes or the dislikes of the client's approach. But in all cases, be mature and respectful in your discussions. You can also learn from other projects and use this to create trust on other projects.