I once joked that I should write a presentation called ‘What time does the 3pm webinar start?’
This was in response to a steady stream of people who register for our events (which we thank you for) but then chase us for registration links, recording links etc. All these are sent out automatically.
Does anyone check their junk/spam before contacting us? No.
Then comes the ‘I found your emails in the spam/junk file’. Not even with an apology. We always respond but all they want is for us us to jump when they feel like it.
Accounting firms often joke that running a practice would be great if it wasn’t for the clients. This is because clients don’t do what you ask them to, ask stupid questions and then chase you for stuff they’ve already had from you. The clients don’t learn either. They want you to jump when they feel like it.
Both you and I joke about dealing with government offices including the tax office. This is because they are often difficult to work with, don’t pick up the phone, are slow to respond to emails and yet they want us to jump whenever they feel like it.
In all of the above three scenarios, tempers, frustration and anger can rise on all sides. All annoyance could be avoided if you, me and them checked things at our side first. But rather than check things at our side, we simply assume that the fault lies with the other party.
We can all do ourselves a lot of favours for our client relationships, bank balances and blood pressure by pointing a finger at ourselves before pointing it at someone else. It’s not human nature to do this I know, but we look unprofessional, ignorant and self-centred when we don’t.
That’s not a good look for any of us.
To your success
Martin Bissett
