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Once a month I spend the day in 15-minute phone calls with my clients. They book in via an on-line appointment scheduler and I call them at the appointed time. Once the clients have been working with me for a while they “get it” that there is value in sending an email a day or so before the call, highlighting the topics they want to discuss. I always emerge from these days energised by the conversations – and informed by the topics covered. My clients are my R&D team – the questions they ask and stories they tell give me a clear insight into what’s “hot to trot” in the marketplace. Yesterday I was asked:
to explain how a new-business “pipeline” works
to explain the Kolbe assessment system
to help with an associate who is struggling to attract new patients
to calm a principal who feels it necessary to micro-manage her team
to advise a principal who is emigrating to Australia on a smooth hand-over of patients to her successor
to review hygienist profitability
to advise on managing branch practices effectively
to forward a job specification for a business manager
to help with the marketing plan
to discuss how to remotivate a team of care nurses
to offer an opinion on incorporation
to review a marketing plan
to suggest a contract for an in-house masseuse
to encourage a principal to replace an assistant
to calm down a principal in overwhelm
to suggest some verbal skills training
to congratulate a principal for taking a holiday!
to advise on the implementation of new software
And the encouraging aspect of all that was the absence of any negativity – nobody moaning about their “poor me” problems – just positive, focused people, attempting to build better businesses and lives.
After a day of calls I’m usually stir-crazy – and so a long walk on the beach was the next agenda item – and as I watched the sun go down I reflected on a very good day.
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