Don’t Understand your Client? Ask for Clarification
From time to time I receive client requests that just don’t make sense. Whether it is me being dense or the client not being clear the fact of the matter remains the same: some sort of clarification is needed. If you do not understand what is being asked of you it is very important to clear things up before you move forward.
I don’t want to ask for clarification because it makes me look dumb. Nothing could be sillier than this. You should never use this excuse because it does not make any sense. Your client would rather have you admit that you are lost than to complete the job based on the wrong specifications. You don’t have to be rude or make yourself look bad when asking for clarification. Instead, explain that you do not totally understand what is being asked of you. Believe it or not, 99 percent of clients will do whatever it takes to make you better understand.
Try this tip: call the client instead of using email. No matter how hard I try there are times when I do not understand what a client is telling me. In this case, I get on the phone and ask the appropriate questions. It is a waste of time to send email after email when a quick phone call will allow both parties to get on the right track. Don’t be afraid to call your clients – this will show them just how much you care.
Anytime you are confused you need to ask your client for clarification. This may come before a project starts, or maybe as you are completing the job. When you know what is being asked of you it becomes much easier to complete the project with 100 percent success.Â
