Stop Cooking With Cheese
A cool reverse advertising campaign, run by The Cossette Group for The Canadian Dairy Farmers more than 17 years ago, has stuck with me. The tagline was “Stop Cooking With Cheese”, which I say often.
It was based on the premise that parents wanted to get their twenty-something-year-olds out of the house, but they were taking too good of care of them - they were not motivating them to leave. Cooking with cheese is obviously amazing (if you don’t like cheese, you’re probably an alien…), so why would anyone leave a house that cooks with it?
Does this sound like you in the way you enable your clients to take advantage of you by not setting boundaries?
Do you take such good care of them that they run all over you and your team?
Or worse, are you providing over-the-top care to clients you don’t even want in your firm?
Setting boundaries with clients is crucial for maintaining respectful relationships. While it's important to create sustainable client loyalty, it's equally important to establish clear limits to avoid being taken advantage of or wasting resources on clients who are not a good fit for your firm.
But how do you set client boundaries effectively?
Take the time to identify the type of clients you want to work with
Consider shared values, needs, and the services you rock at, along with where you don’t bring value
By defining your 5 Star Client, you can better focus your efforts on attracting and working with those who align with your expertise and objectives
Set clear expectations from the beginning of your relationship
Clearly communicate the scope of your services, deliverables, timelines, and limitations
Ensure your clients understand what you will and will not provide, through a thorough onboarding process, including using engagement contracts
Define and communicate boundaries proactively
Don't wait for boundary issues to arise before addressing them
Discuss your boundaries with clients early on, during the discovery and onboarding process
Let them know the limits of your availability, preferred communication methods, and any specific protocols or procedures they need to follow
Set boundaries on communication; be “bossy-nice”
Establish guidelines for client communication to avoid being bombarded with requests or disruptions
Clearly communicate your preferred communication channels, such as email or scheduled phone calls, and let clients know your availability and response times
Encourage them to respect your boundaries and adhere to the agreed-upon communication methods
Prioritize your time and resources
Assess the value and profitability of each client
Dedicating your time and resources to clients who align with your goals and contribute positively to your business is key
If you find yourself investing too much time in clients who drain your energy or do not meet your criteria, it may be necessary to reevaluate the relationship and consider if it's worth continuing
Learn to say no; Do not heed #TheBookkeeperBootyCall!
You must say no when a client request falls outside the agreed-upon scope or stretches your resources too thin
Politely, but firmly, decline requests that go beyond the scope of work or are not a good fit for your firm
Offer alternative solutions, such as referring them to another professional
Regularly reassess client relationships
Periodically evaluate your relationships to ensure they align with your firm's goals and values
If a client consistently pushes boundaries, disrespects your guidelines, or becomes a drain on your resources, it’s time to have a candid conversation about the need for a change in the working arrangement or to consider ending the relationship altogether
Setting boundaries is not about being a hardass or unprofessional. It's about creating a healthy and mutually beneficial partnership that allows you to provide the greatest value to your 5 Star Clients while maintaining your well-being and your firm's success. By clearly defining and consistently reinforcing your boundaries, you can cultivate relationships with clients who appreciate your expertise and respect your limitations.
“Stop cooking with cheese”!
Featured Template
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Featured Template ~~~
This week’s template is a freebie, courtesy of Rewind, on strengthening your client boundaries. Not sure if “stop cooking with cheese” is mentioned 🤣🤣🤣
Boundaries are a set of rules and limits that can be applied within a relationship to establish behavioral expectations—in other words, what someone is (and isn’t!) comfortable with.
Boundaries aren’t just for personal relationships though. They can—and should—be set within professional and business relationships to help protect the emotional health and productivity of everyone involved.
When boundaries are clear between businesses and clients, trust is built and time is saved. What’s not to love?
Join Your Peers Here
- QuickBooks Get Connected Toronto 2023
Tuesday, June 13 - Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Get Connected is Intuit Canada’s can't-miss event for accounting and bookkeeping professionals. They are back in person this year—so come join me to hear from industry experts and get inspired during two days of networking, education, and much more.
On day one, I am on a panel with some cool dudes, who I am sure are not aliens and love cheese - Andrew Wall and Kyle Turriff - noodling through this thing called AI; “Accounting in the Age of Innovation: Exploring the Latest Tech Trends”.
From AI to automation, hear from us on our perspectives about new and disruptive technologies affecting the accounting industry, helping you stay ahead of the curve.
On day two, I am hosting a meetup; “Let's Talk About CRMs”.
It’s a small group (25 peeps) roundtable where we will discuss what everyone is using (or not using) to manage their marketing, sales and client information.
Can’t wait to see y’all!
Simply yours, Kellie :-}
::Shameless Call To Action::
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PS: This week is a roller coaster of emotions.
Our son is getting married to a terrific gal on Friday, and we are thrilled.
But sadly, one of our closest friends passed away, and his funeral is Thursday.
This has been a time of many “I love you’s”, and I’m grateful for them all. When Lorne told me his chronic Luekemia had turned acute and aggressive, I took his face in my hands and gave him an up-close “I love you”. He laughed at me and told me “not to be weird”. The last time I saw him we mushed out many “I love you’s”, and it was most certainly not weird.
Too many “I love you’s” are left unsaid. Not because of rifts that need to be repaired (that’s hard to do), but because we are too comfortable or complacent in our lives to say them. Make this the time you tell your people you love them.
PPS: For years, my son has texted me an “I love you” almost every day. How lucky am I to start my day with that!?
