Your client questions the future of your partnership. How will you reassure them of its long-term viability?

Client patnership is like a marriage which is based on 'Trust' and 'Integrity. It will go through ups & downs but if you are honest and trying hard, adaptable and clear in your futurstic vision the relatiosnhip will flourish. The key is listening to client and absorbing their concern to make changes as required. Performance is key for any client so understanding the fact and controlling the controlables at challenging times.Being innovative and thinking outside the box with a futristic growth view. Do not feel bad to say 'Sorry' when something not worked but the intention must be visible and there is no subsitute to hard work, prove that you are trustworthy. Communication is key, making sure it is clear and honest at all times.

Business interactions are based on trust, meaning that honesty and openness are key virtues. In order to earn trust, candid communication is critical. Detailed discussions are needed on the fundamental aspects of the relationship. Addressing the core elements of concern is a good starting point as these form the foundation of the relationship. It is important to reassure the client of continued service delivery at the relevant level of detail in a practical or demonstrable way. Any outstanding issues must be efficiently and effectively dealt with as a show of commitment. This approach will convince the client of business continuity and commitment. I have had to previously continue providing services in the face of uncertain reciprocity.

Set up a meeting where the client can express his reasons for questioning the future of the association. Listen carefully to each and every one of their arguments and once you have finished, begin to refute them. The most important thing in a meeting of this type is to put on the table that business relationships flow, that they are dynamic and evolve over time in order to solve the demands that arise over time, the needs of the customer today are not the same as the same customer five years ago, nor will be the same in five years, so once heard their reasons, our job is to offer solid solutions to continue relying on us and extend the relationship in the future.

Delivering authentic results to the client is a sure way of guaranteeing product value. Stamping a mark on the quality of the work or product ensures value entrenchment in the relationship. The client relationship will be revived on the basis of high quality work output which eliminates competition. This approach will assure the client that you can still deliver the service with high proficiency. Benchmarking you output against generally accepted industry standards will be an added advantage. I have had to break my back and spend more just to ensure that I deliver the best quality of work output that is second to none. This approach ensured that I was retained and even recalled for longer periods despite ferocious competition from others.

Understanding your client's business and their models is critical for retaining the relationship. The core values, mission, vision, targets or plans reveal key details about the client's strategic direction. It is critical to practically demonstrate an understanding of the client's perspective in the relationship and all work outputs. It is an added advantage to get involved in developing such business essentials in the first place. It is easier to reboot the relationship if the client feels that a new practitioner may not be familiar with the business or company culture. I have previously been involved in developing a client's strategic direction. This gave me a clear understanding of the business and helped to strengthen the relationship.

First you need to listen to the client, ask question and being curious about his thoughts. Then you rephrase what he is trying to say and confirm with him if it is correct what you understood. What you can answer and explain how you will continue to fulfill his needs do it immediately. Then on the concerns or issue you do not have an answer for now, be transparent and inform him how you will address those and do your best to fix it and make sure we can fully satisfy him. As well thank him for taking the time to speak about it. For the open concerns you need to be able to answer them ASAP. Sometimes you cannot fullfill them and you will need to find some creative solutions. It is not about being always the best, but building trust.