Are Your Client Relationships in Full Bloom? Tips for Growing Client Relationships

Posted April 15, 2025 in Sales Brew

Living in Cincinnati, OH, you never know when spring will officially hit. Our weather ping-pongs back and forth between winter and spring for close to two months. But I’m finally starting to see the signs of a shift in the seasons – trees are starting to bud, perennials are starting to pop up, and my allergies are running wild! I love the look of a fresh-cut lawn and well-manicured garden beds that are clearly loved and doted on.

But full disclosure, that’s not my lawn or my garden. I’m an awful gardener and have no green thumb. I have managed to kill multiple succulents and cacti, which, if you know anything about plants, are nearly impossible to kill. But that’s because I don’t do what I need to do to keep them alive. Even something as low-maintenance as a succulent still has needs – water every once in a while, a warm sunny spot to rest, and a space that’s not too hot or too cold.

And as I was walking around my house yesterday, looking at all the plants I’m eventually going to unalive, I started thinking about my clients. Now, don’t worry, I don’t treat my clients the same way. I guess they get the attention my plants don’t! But it was a good moment to take stock of my client relationships. What am I doing to make sure that my clients are happy, well-served, and not just surviving, but thriving?

Growing Client Relationships Starts with Real Conversations

I’ve been speaking with a lot of my groups and training participants recently about the concept of value. And every time, we talk about how value is perceived. It’s something that must be experienced. We can’t just tell people how we are different. They have to experience that difference.

I believe one of the many reasons prospects are regularly wary of speaking to salespeople and exploring new relationships is because they’ve been disappointed so many times in the past. They have worked with others like us who are promised value, promised to be different, but time and time again, they are let down. Promises aren’t upheld, and the relationship takes a backseat once business is complete.

So I encourage you to ask yourself the same question: is your client relationship in full bloom? Are your clients thriving, or just surviving? Are you asking them questions and getting them to think about and consider things that need to be thought about and considered, even if it’s outside of the realm of what you do? Are you checking in regularly to see how they are, how they feel about your role as a partner, and if there is anything you need to do or adjust to better meet their expectations and needs?

It may feel scary to ask that last question because sometimes it’s easier not to know. But if you don’t want your client relationship to dry up and wither away, and risk losing the business completely, it’s worth having the conversation. It’s our job to support and nurture our customers and prospects, and help put them in the best possible position to flourish. That’s what growing client relationships is all about.

Growing Client Relationships Starts with Real Conversations

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