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Over the years of helping firms establish filters for identifying their best new clients to target, one criteria inevitably surfaces ? ?we want to work with clients who see us as a partner and not a vendor?.

While I personally think this is a great filter, especially in an area like professional services, many times firms don?t always walk the walk themselves. And that?s ultimately troubling because when it comes to fostering any true partner relationship, it takes two to tango.

If you want to learn if your firm is a good partner, start by looking at these 6 characteristics of any good partnership (business or personal). They will help you determine how strong your partnering profile is and also assess a client?s or prospective client?s profile:

1. Willingness to listen first
2. Willingness to change
3. Willing to admit mistakes
4. Sees the relationship as an opportunity to give
5. Keeps promises
6. Considers what?s in the best interest of their partner

While all are important, I believe that partnering starts with listening. So, to what degree is your team really listening and open and willing to change? By the way, I believe that if the former is true the latter will be much more likely to happen. For example, when your client tells the team what they want, do they typically come back with

1. What the client asked for even if it?s not an approach that the team might recommend
2. Something different because they don?t believe what the client requested is the right approach
3. What the client asked for in addition to an option(s) that the team feels is the right approach:

I sure hope you answered either ?1? or ?3? and hopefully ?3? ? that is of course if you?re interested in fostering partner-like relationships with clients.

I frequently conduct Client Research on behalf of firms. One characteristic that consistently has high value according to clients happens to be a willingness to truly listen. And something that really aggravates clients is when you ignore what they?ve asked for. Even if you don?t like their idea, you?re much better off bringing them what they requested along with your recommendation as an option.

I realize that saying ?we listen? probably sounds trite. I suppose that?s because it seems so easy to do and most firms think they do. However most clients that I?ve talked to over time tell a very different story ? that agencies actually do a very poor job of it and that it affects the relationship. Maybe that?s why it is expressed with such exuberance when a client talks about a firm that really does listen.

If you want to find and foster more partner-like client relationships, remember that you first need to walk the walk because ultimately it does take two to tango.

Thanks for your time and as always, good hunting (and partnering)!

Larry Melnick

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Source: http://hunterbizdev.com/2012/11/when-it-comes-to-partner-relationships-it-takes-two-to-tango/

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