Client Expectations
You’ve heard about it, right? Setting client expectations, what they want, what they need, how you can help them? Ok, here’s the thing, you must do your due diligence in setting up expectations or else, it could turn into a real train wreck!
Here are 5 simple steps to get a handle on it before it ALL COMES CRASHING AROUND YOU!
- Be clear
- Sometimes do them a tiny favor
- Establish boundaries
- Don’t promise them everything
- Always under-promise and over-deliver
Read more in this guide → Setting Client Expectations
4 Steps to New Clients
Here are four ideas to get a flow of clients coming your way:
- Be clear about the work you do. If you can clearly explain your work, others will be able to spread the word. When someone asks what I do, I say, “I’m a Virtual Assistant. I work with solo-professionals – people who work on their own – like business coaches, marketing consultants, and financial planners. I help them with all their administrative work – like updating their websites, setting up their newsletters, and helping them set up online courses.”And then I stop talking. Too much information can be confusing! And by the way, I say the exact same thing every time someone asks me the question (I practiced saying it out loud until I could do it cold!).
- Spread the word. Attend networking events in your area, participate in social media, and write a monthly email newsletter that you then send to everyone you know. If you’re in front of people on a regular basis, you won’t be top of mind when someone needs to hire a Virtual Assistant with your skills. People love to make referrals – make it easy for them.
Follow Through
- Be clear about how much you charge. By being clear, clients can decide if they can afford you. It removes time spent negotiating and wringing your hands every time someone asks you how much working with you will cost. So pick an hourly rate and stick to it. Then raise it from time to time as your skills get sharper.
- Be clear about how to get started. have 15-minute free consultations with many prospective clients. When the call is wrapping up and I think they’re a good fit for me, I’m clear about the next steps. I say, “I’d like to work with you. I’ll send you a link to buy your first set of hours with me. When you’re ready and once you buy them, I’ll be in touch to schedule a meeting with you and we can get started.”
It may seem like getting good clients is a lot of work, but if you think about it as a part of what you do – and have a set approach you rely on every day – the work will flow your way!
Why Being Assertive is Important and How to Develop It
Learning to be assertive is one of the most important life skills you can develop. Studies have shown that being assertive can lead to a whole host of benefits. From increased self-confidence to better relationships and improved mental and physical health.
Before you start, it’s important to understand what being assertive means.
Definition
assertive [əˈsərdiv] ADJECTIVE having or showing a confident and forceful personality. “patients should be more assertive with their doctors” synonyms: confident · forceful · self-confident · positive · bold · decisive · assured · self-assured · self-possessed · believing in oneself · self-assertive · authoritative · strong-willed · insistent · firm · determined · commanding · bullish · dominant · domineering · assaultive · feisty · not backward in coming forward · pushy · pushful
Assertiveness
Psychologists define assertiveness as being able to express yourself effectively and stand up for your point of view while respecting the rights and beliefs of others. The basis of assertiveness is mutual respect and honesty. Assertive communicators are straightforward and know how to set and maintain healthy boundaries. Their relationships value and promote trust.
If you’re serious about living an authentic life and succeeding in reaching your goals, learning to be assertive is crucial. Think about how you feel about your life right now.
Are you satisfied with your personal and professional situation?
Are you conflict avoidant?
Do you worry about what other people think of you?
If you’re not happy with where you are now, the good news is that assertiveness is a habit that can be learned just like any other. With practice and commitment, you can change your mindset and live a life more aligned with your true values and aspirations.
Assertive Tips
Try these tips for introducing a more assertive approach into your life:
- Decide what your priorities are and stick to them.
- Work out your individual
- Develop a positive open posture and look people in the eye when you speak to them.
- Use positive ‘I’ statements about how you’re feeling instead of blaming or finding fault with the other person. Be especially wary of feeling tempted to say, ‘you always’ or ‘you never.’
- Get comfortable with saying ‘no’ to things you don’t want to or can’t do. Keep it simple and non-emotive and don’t feel you need to add an excuse or explanation.
- Only use ‘sorry’ when it’s appropriate for the situation. You don’t need to apologize for saying no.
- Offer alternative suggestions to proposals you don’t like.
- Look for compromises.
- Be honest and direct about your feelings, thoughts, and
- Consider writing a script for a situation that feels awkward. Rehearse being confident.
Try to keep your focus on the impact of the situation and finding a way to work together to find a mutually satisfying solution.
Being Assertive IS Important
Above all, being assertive means staying in your power, accepting that you have control over how you approach the situation and your feelings about it.
Assertiveness won’t get you everything you want all the time, but you will feel in control and deal much better with situations that would have previously been stressful.
Until next time …
The 3-Step Process to Stop Thinking and Start Doing
The 3-Step Process to Stop Thinking = Easy … I get it…You want a fulfilling career, a home of your own, and better health. Or perhaps you have smaller goals, such as learning a new language or traveling more often.
However, you never find the time or the perfect opportunity to get started.
Insert Mic Drop ——–
Are YOU Ready Now?
The truth is that most people fail to achieve their goals not because they lack talent or have bad ideas, but because they quit. They get caught up in ruminating over what they might do and never. take. action!
If you fall into this category, it’s time to make a change.
What is a Process?
A Process =
Process [ˈpräˌses, ˈprōˌses] NOUN a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end. “military operations could jeopardize the peace process” synonyms: procedure · operation · action · activity · exercise · affair · business · job · task · undertaking · proceeding law a summons or writ requiring a person to appear in court. synonyms: summons · writ · subpoena · citation biology anatomy a natural appendage or outgrowth on or in an organism, such as a protuberance on a bone. VERB perform a series of mechanical or chemical operations on (something) in order to change or preserve it. “the various stages in processing the wool”
Get a CLUE >>>> Follow these three steps to stop thinking and start doing!
Get Your Priorities Straight
The 3-Step Process to Stop Thinking AND Start Doing is easy. Start by defining your priorities. What do you want to achieve the most?
Set short-term and long-term goals, such as getting a promotion, acquiring new clients, or buying a home. Give yourself due dates for each of these goals. Even if you don’t meet the deadline, it should be just enough to get you started.
Eliminate any distractions that are wasting your time and focus on your end goal – to acquire new leads and boost your revenue.
Stop Over-Analyzing and Go for It
Do you spend hours or days thinking and planning? Do you always focus on the worst-case scenario? Are you constantly trying to read between the lines? These signs indicate that you tend to over-analyze everything.
Like it or not, your thoughts are not reality. Just because you’re thinking of the worst-case scenario, it doesn’t mean it will happen. Don’t believe everything you feel or think. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to go with the flow and take action. Over-analyzing situations, events, or actions rarely lead to a productive outcome.
Focus on the Positive
Psychologists advise us to stay positive for a good reason. A negative attitude fuels fear and anxiety, keeping you from reaching your goals. You always think of what could go wrong instead of keeping an open mind.
Keeping a positive attitude is good for your health too. It boosts your motivation and inner drive, helps you stay strong when times get tough and gives you a fresh perspective on the world around you.
A Couple Things To Try
Try meditation, positive affirmation, yoga, or whatever it takes to ward off negative thoughts. Focus on the good in your life and hope for the best. Negativity leads nowhere; it’s neither productive nor helpful.
Need help? Reach Out
