How To Flip Mean Clients, So They Eat Out Off Your Hand - Pt 1

It's been a while since I posted any written content, but I'm going to be dropping some serious content bombs for the younger generation over the next two weeks as they graduate vet school. Each day I’ll post a short article that will help improve your life in whatever field of veterinary medicine you find yourself. So sit back and enjoy learning. This content is taken from some of the learning materials we offer in The VetX Graduate Community, and is targeting the younger generation of vets specifically. But I think there will be something of value to everyone. So please consider joining in by checking back that for some brain dumps from me that I know will help you to enjoy a happier less stressed life in veterinary medicine. :)

The first lesson uses two strategies, so in order to avoid overwhelm, I'm going to split the lesson into two separate posts over the next two days, so we don't overwhelm you. I hope you don't mind that. So without further ado, here's lesson 1.

Dealing with tough clients is far and away the hardest thing that most vets have to deal with. It’s one of the things we are taught the least about at vet school or after we graduate.

So how do you maximise your chances of having clients eat out of your hand? Here are two strategies that will help you to seriously raise your game and enjoy working with clients each day.

Strategy One - Don’t upset them in the first place.

Humans like to work and engage with people they know, like and trust. So the first strategy has three points of attack.

1. Be present and hang around. Now I know you might not like this one. However, if you choose to work as a locum, or skip jobs every 12 months, then very few clients are going to get to know you. So you always start from zero trust and have to work very, very hard to get anywhere. Do yourself a favour and hang around in a job for 2-3 years. When clients get to meet you a few times and like what they see, then they will build trust and follow your advice more often. Plus be more forgiving of errors when they inevitably occur.

2. Build a personal brand. Personal branding is more important now than ever. If a client can read about you on the practice website, watch some video and learn a few opinions that you hold, then they have the chance to start to like you and form a relationship. So make sure you have a great, professional photo and bio on the "about us" page of the practice website. Also, you want to have posted engaging content there in the form of written articles or videos so clients can see what you are all about as a vet. Plus, you should add links to your professional social media profiles.

3. Do a good job and at the very least, keep your word. Trust builds when people believe you can do the job well. This is part confidence, part skill. So train hard in both your clinical and presentation skills. Also, if you say you are going to do something (like complete an insurance form, or call back about a blood test, then make sure you do it on time. Each positive interaction is another step on the trust staircase.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post... and give the lessons a go.

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The VetX Graduate Community

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