Krystian Slowinski’s Post

Be proactive with your clients! Share updates and address issues before your clients ask. This builds trust and ensures they feel informed and confident in your work, especially if they’ll be on the job site. #proactivecommunication #buildtrust #clientupdates

It's easy to focus on getting the next project and moving on. But what's more important is building strong, long-term relationships with your clients. Here’s what I’ve learned: 🔷 Connections open doors: Every relationship can lead to more opportunities. 🔷 Value over price when you start: Increase your rate percent-wise for the next project with the same client. 🔷 Trust takes time: Keep delivering quality work, stay in touch, and build that trust over time. A project may be over quickly, but a solid relationship can bring repeat work, referrals, and long-term growth. So, the next time you work with a client, think beyond just the project. Build a relationship that lasts. And don’t forget to ask for glowing testimonials, they are a reflection of the trust and value you've built with your clients! 🌟 Day 64/100 1% Better Everyday!

Consultants sometimes get accused of staying beyond their welcome. One project can easily lead to another. This post offers solutions to common issues that can damage a healthy client-consultant relationship.

Ever felt a client’s skepticism shake your confidence? Here’s a secret: doubt isn’t your enemy—it’s your greatest ally. Skepticism from a client isn’t a roadblock; it’s an opportunity. When a client questions you, they’re inviting you to listen deeper, understand their concerns, and address their fears. Instead of resisting their doubt, embrace it. Ask open questions like: • What are your main concerns? • What would give you confidence? By listening actively and showing that you genuinely care about their perspective, you turn their doubt into trust. And trust isn’t just a win for today—it’s the foundation of long-lasting client relationships.

✨ Building Strong Relationships = Driving Operational Success ✨ In my experience, one of the key drivers of operational success isn’t just having the right processes or the best tools—it’s building strong, genuine relationships with the people around you. Whether it's clients, vendors, or internal teams, establishing trust and open communication goes a long way in creating seamless processes and accomplishing goals together. 💡 Here are a few principles I’ve followed throughout my career to ensure both strong relationships and efficient operations: 1️⃣ Active Listening: Understanding the needs and concerns of clients and colleagues helps me tailor solutions that not only meet expectations but often exceed them. 2️⃣ Consistency: Being dependable is the foundation of trust. Consistently delivering results, following through on commitments, and maintaining open communication are non-negotiables. 3️⃣ Flexibility: Operations rarely go exactly as planned. Having strong relationships allows me to navigate challenges collaboratively, ensuring that we adapt quickly and efficiently. In the end, relationships aren’t just a "soft skill"—they’re the backbone of successful businesses. I believe whole-heartedly that the more we invest in people, the more our operations thrive. What are some of the strategies you use to build strong relationships in your work? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 💬👇

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧? Throughout my career as an IT consultant, I've seen firsthand how the right contractor can significantly impact a project's success. I'd like to share some lessons I've learned along the way: 𝘽𝙚 𝙊𝙗𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 A good contractor prioritizes the client's needs above all else. There have been times when clients asked for recommendations, and I realized another company might better suit their specific requirements. Recommending someone else may seem counterintuitive, but it builds long-term trust and credibility. 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙨 When navigating unfamiliar territory, I often turn to trusted friends and colleagues for referrals. Their firsthand experiences can lead you to reliable professionals, reducing the uncertainty that comes with new partnerships. 𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙨𝙩 An old adage says, "You're not rich enough to buy cheap things." I've witnessed companies face problems after choosing the cheapest contractor available. While staying within budget is important, opting for the lowest price can lead to subpar work and additional expenses down the line. Consider the overall value a contractor brings—not just the cost. 𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 Whichever contractor you choose, fostering a respectful relationship is essential. Your contractor will gain deep insights into your business operations, and maintaining a positive rapport enhances collaboration. Replacing a contractor isn't just costly; it's disruptive and can set your project back significantly. Choosing the right contractor isn't merely a transactional decision; it's about building a partnership that can drive your business forward. By being objective, leveraging referrals, valuing quality over cost, and maintaining respect, you set the stage for successful collaborations.

How I overcame a client relationship crisis! One thing we can count on in life is the unexpected! I remember a time when one of my key clients was going through major business changes and suddenly became unresponsive. As a virtual assistant managing their operations, this created a huge gap in communication and halted all progress on key projects. It felt like I had hit a wall. I realized I needed to step back, look at it objectively, and try to figure out how I got there. I assessed what had changed in the client's business and how I could proactively step in to offer solutions that could ease the transition. I even thought of giving up but after a lot of thought and reflection, I decided to keep going. I reached out with strategic proposals, offering new ways to automate their processes, improve efficiency, and create smoother workflows for them, all while keeping things flexible. And guess what? I was able to work through it, and it turned out much better than I expected. Not only did the client appreciate my initiative, but I also became their go-to person for handling similar transitions in the future, strengthening our working relationship. Words to live by: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” -Thomas Edison What have you overcome and how? Comment below!

Fire drill difficult client conversations. A great success habit is to practice difficult conversations before the happen. Talking about difficult things with clients before they happen is so much easier. Try sitting down with clients and talk about how you'll both handle tricky situations: What do we do if we disagree about X? How will we handle a deadline slipping? Don't limit these conversations to process either, talk about communications channels, how you'll feel, where the pressures will come from. When we start a new relationship it's tempting to think everything will be great, but things do happen. Talk about all the things that could go wrong and how you'll handle that. Doing this before they happen gives you both certainty if the sh*t does hit the fan in the future.

Setting clear boundaries with clients doesn’t hurt relationships. It strengthens them. Before, I thought saying ‘yes’ to everything would lead to more success. But I realised it wasn’t sustainable. I wasn’t delivering the best outcomes for my clients. The idea of setting boundaries comes down to creating a framework. It allows you to operate effectively while maintaining balance in your life. For example— I made sure clients understood when and how they could reach me. By doing this, - I avoid reactive communication  - I can focus on delivering the best service when I'm fully present. It’s also about managing expectations. Whether it is: 1. Setting realistic timelines. 2. Being clear about budget limits. Boundaries help prevent unnecessary stress for both sides. When you set boundaries you: - protect your energy - improve your service quality - build stronger, more rewarding relationships For new buyer’s agents, This approach is what you need to take on board quickly. It’s tempting to overextend yourself to secure clients. The truth is— Clients respect clarity and professionalism. When you’re clear about how you work and what clients can expect, It creates trust and makes communication a lot easier.