Trouble Retaining Clients?

Published on May 30, 2020

If you work in business, you have clients. Yours may be internal customers or external but in both cases, you may be pushing them away. If you're struggling to retain clients and wondering why you're losing them, here are 40 reasons why. Figure out which are your greatest challenge and make a change for your long-term success and your client's too.

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Trouble Retaining Clients?

 40 Reasons Why
Photo by Steve Halama

Blame

You blame the client when things go south
Photo by otherthings

Rigid

 You have a rigid process
Photo by aldoaldoz

Your Way or the highway

 You insist on your approach no matter what
Photo by PeterThoeny

Sorry

 You don't accept

Right

 You have a compulsion to be right
Photo by kenteegardin

Trust

 was assumed but never established
Photo by Pro-Zak

the client

 is the problem. Asshole.
Photo by James Pond

You're blind

 to your confirmation bias
Photo by novia wu

Who needs questions?

 You understand all
Photo by BAMCorp

need me

 You need to be needed
Photo by Laura Ockel

collaboration?

 You throw around the word team but act like a general
Photo by MeckiMac

What did you say?

 Listen much?
Photo by Malte Wingen

Flawless

 Who needs specifics? Stop asking me.
Photo by cobalt123

Flex?

 Not you
Photo by JD Hancock

Look at that chip

 on your shoulder
Photo by mhaller1979

I'm offended

too easily and too often

Know-It-All

 And the client is a know-Nothing?

Courageous conversation

 no, thanks. I'd rather avoid it...
Photo by Auntie K

speak the Truth

 or sugarcoat?
Photo by verchmarco

Superhero complex

 You believe you can help anyone and everyone
Photo by JD Hancock

Timing matters

 interventions work at the right time, not any time

I'm smart

 In fact, I'm the smartest
Photo by Owen Beard

Selling solutions

 Is it about you or them?
Photo by elizaIO

Narrow focus

 You ignore or dismiss the big picture

Past stories

define you... and you tell them over and over
Photo by kenleewrites

This will take a long time

 and no, I don't give you a map
Photo by CsabX

Weak vision

 can't overcome the pain of change
Photo by !anaughty!

judgement

 oh-so-fast
Photo by Bill Oxford

tried and true

 is your middle name. who needs change?

They're all the same

 Who cares if the client thinks their situation is unique?
Photo by Erol Ahmed

REFERRALS

 are for losers...

That's Common

 You tell them as you dismiss their concerns
Photo by litlnemo

Pile up the wrongs

 Keep count instead of making things right
Photo by Michael Cory

never dive too deep

 but tell your client you get it 100%

Being the expert

 is more improtant than a strong relationship
Photo by Ryan Riggins

Money Drives everything

 even wheN You're a Bad match
Photo by Great Beyond

You need a new watch

or learn to be on time

Arrogant

 You can't be challenged - ever
Photo by Felinest

Disorganized

 and scattered doesn't breed confidence
Photo by Earthworm

Grumpy

 Gosh, aren't you a pleasure
Photo by JD Hancock

It's Not too late

 Self-Awareness is a great start
Photo by mripp

Change

 is a choice

be brave and bold

 and make the leap
Photo by Cam Adams