5) Establish Control
One of the biggest mistakes consultants make is letting clients steer the relationship from the beginning. Remember, clients hire consultants because they want and need guidance. In the mind of most clients, a consultant in need of babysitting can’t be respected or trusted.
By taking control from the outset and showing that you are a confident and capable leader, you’ll have a better chance of commanding respect.
What does control look like? It comes in many forms and is sometimes difficult to pull off because it requires being heavy-handed and assertive while maintaining a calm, cool, and collected appearance. For example: You could gain control of a client relationship by establishing a project schedule with deadlines that are realistic and in your favor. You could dictate the flow of all phone and in-person meetings -- don’t be afraid to cut off the ramblers who love to veer off topic or end a meeting on-time. And you could send weekly project updates with next steps to show full transparency and establish clarity.