You've experienced a communication breakdown with a client. How can you rebuild trust effectively?

As humans, we all make mistakes. If there was a miscommunication with a client, I would be more than happy to take responsibility if I made a mistake on my end. I believe we should all adapt that mindset, especially as entrepreneurs/ leaders.

1. Be honest about what you have observed about the relationship. 2. Reassure them that your relationship is important to you and open communication is appreciated even if they need to express constructive feedback. 3. Ask open-ended questions that allows that client to accurately and safely share the reasoning behind the breakdown. 4. Ask what would need to change in order to re-establish necessary components of this client-service provider relationship. 5. Create a plan for the path forward and establish what accountability looks like.

Active listening is one of the most crucial components of effective communication. We need to fully understand where clients are coming from, and hear them out if they aren’t feeling satisfied/ if a mistake was made. Feedback is a gift if we view it this way. It’s an exceptional opportunity to grow, and adapt, especially in your business!

As someone whose business relies around all things communication, we need to ensure that open and healthy communication is consistently present when working with anyone. Without it, nothing sustainable will be cultivated.

Always check in and follow up with your clients. That’s the difference between being good, and being great as an entrepreneur. I view my clients as friends, it’s a genuine relationship. I care about their success, which is why I put my heart and soul into everything I do. I truly believe all entrepreneurs should go about business this way, especially if they want to succeed long-term and gain a positive reputation.