Prince's Diamonds & Pearls #179

3 Questions to Win Over Bosses & Clients

Starting a new job or beginning a new relationship with a dream client is thrilling, yet unnerving. If you want to make an excellent impression and not screw it up, these 3 questions to ask will equip you to be an instant standout, winning them over, and positively influencing your relationship from that point forward. This applies to whether you are starting a new job, joining a new department, or starting a new relationship with a new VIP client.

Your intro can be following, “I have a few hypothetical questions that I would like to ask that will help me perform my best for you. Is that ok that I ask them?:

1.) “I know that I’m here to do a job and I will do everything on my job description excellently. I also want to be an added resource for you.” What are your main responsibilities? What would be the best thing I could do to contribute to YOUR success?

When they share what it is, write it down and repeat it back to them. State that “This is too important for me to forget. Is what you said …” and then repeat it back. Wait for them to say yes.

2.) Going forward I want to be someone that you’re glad joined your team in 1,2, or 3 months as hopefully as you are today. So, as we’re starting out and going forward...What must I ALWAYS do, and what must I NEVER do so that you’re GLAD that I’m on the team?

Listen to what they have to say, write it down, and repeat it back. And add “I would like to check in with you once a month to see how I’m doing and what you suggest I could improve on. I promise not to get defensive. I’m not defensive easily, because I’m eager to learn.”

3.) This third questions takes you from being a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 for positive impression and influence to a 13. What job or task is really important to our group’s success but nobody wants to do it?

When you get the answer, volunteer to do it. Now do it with excellence and a positive attitude. This will instantly make you the manager’s “Person of the Decade”!

The very act of asking these thoughtful questions will make you a standout and then delivering on them will make you look like you “walk on water”. As a leader, how much would you relish it if someone came to you with these questions and then delivered on them? You may consider it to be a dream come true!

Winning friends & influencing people in a new job or client relationship isn’t about being the loudest or the flashiest. It’s about being genuine, committed, and consistently striving to add value.

Share in the comments below, what is one thing that a team member or vendor has done or could do that would immediately win you over when starting a new relationship and set them up to be a 13 out of 10?

References: 3 Questions to Win Over Bosses & Clients by Darren Hardy