Why You Should Never Baby-Sit Your Clients (And How To Avoid It)

“No Babysitting Allowed” is something I feel should be in the forefront of our minds when onboarding a new client. I was in the Babysitting seat at one point when I first started my business. It was a very difficult time. I finally understood how to avoid this situation, to remain sane and attract the right clients. While it was a great learning experience, I want to help businesses on how to not let it happen at all.

As a business owner, I’m passionate about fostering successful client relationships. That’s why I believe the mantra “No Babysitting Allowed!” should be a primary goal when onboarding a new client. I experienced firsthand the consequences of babysitting a non-compliant customer — it was a difficult and stressful time. Through this process, though, I gained insight into how to better manage expectations and foster trust with new customers. Going forward, I strive to prevent clients from being in the ‘babysitting seat,’ enabling me to create successful partnerships that benefit everyone involved!

Having a sound business process and procedures in place is critical in minimizing the potential for babysitting clients. When you are hired to do a job, be sure that all information needed to complete it is readily available – because who really wants to spend hours making calls and writing emails? Not me! But if you find yourself in such a situation, keep your head up. Because of my experience on this subject, I learned some helpful tips which I’m more than happy to share. By applying these strategies, babysitting client problems can be transformed into high levels of productivity. Let’s make the most of our time by focusing on achieving our goals instead of playing catch-up!

So, how do you stop babysitting a client?

When clients deliver the information you need to get the job done right, it’s truly a cause for celebration! Establishing firm process and procedure requirements upfront can help ensure that your expectations are not only clear but also achievable when all is said and done. Even if things don’t go as planned initially, having these safeguards in place allows you to stay on track with minimal setbacks towards your goal.

What do we learn from this?

The best solution is to always make sure to collect all the necessary information from your client before the project gets underway. If the client can’t provide it, you might want to try doing some of the legwork yourself or hiring someone who can help you out. Even if things are already in progress, don’t be afraid to ask for more details – after all, having all the information upfront will boost success!

How to revise your policies and procedures.

Optimism is key when it comes to revising your policies and procedures. Taking the time to refine and perfect your message will pay off! Here are some essential steps that can help you along the way:

1. Think about what you want to say in your policy and/or about your process and get a rough idea of how you’d like to implement it into your pitch or a client contract.

2. Write down coverage of all the facts, points, and ideas related to your policies and procedures.

3. Segment your speech into sections and create a strong introduction for each part. Plan out every essential point that needs to be addressed and practice delivering it with confidence or get it set up in a client contract!

I’m hopeful you have your policies and processes in place. If not, I hope you found this as helpful.  Please feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback.

Here’s an extra little tidbit you may find interesting – 5 THINGS TO TELL A CUSTOMER BEFORE YOU START A JOB