There are two things that take up the most of my time.  My child – tempestuous, deviant toddler Diva-Eva – and work, specifically client relations.  When 80% of your day is dominated by these two things, it’s natural to start blurring the lines between the two.  I must point out some obvious parallels that I have drawn over the last few months.

Kids like routine:

Just like kids, clients like routine.  Don’t set precedents then fail to maintain them.  Should you unwisely do so, expect questions to be asked and on the old occasion, tantrums.  I once forgot to take Diva-Eva on her daily walk.  I never slept that night.  She made sure she expressed her dissatisfaction every hour on the hour through the night.

 Kids act weird when something is amiss:

Today Diva-Eva is not herself.  She is sitting ever-so-quietly on the couch watching TV.  Not climbing on anything, breaking anything or whining about anything.  This is strange.  Something is up.  She’s plotting, she’s mad at me or she’s ill.  The same applies for your clients – if they suddenly appear to be acting differently, you should realise that something is up.  Get in on the plotting (it could be a huge account scoop, some added value you can throw in), uncover the reasons for the possible madness (it could be you, or if you’re lucky, someone else.  Either way, the client will appreciate the gesture and your efforts towards solving the problem).  And if, of course, your client is ill, there’s the added opportunity to send over some flowers, offer some additional help or take another thing off their plate.   Clients, just like kids, can always do with a little help and intuition.

 Kids like to be surprised

I recently bought Diva-Eva some rubbish R90 doll from Pick n Pay.  She kept stealing someone else’s, so I thought it the decent ‘parent-y’ thing to do to get her her very own.  When i came home with said gift in hand, the look of sheer exuberance on her face (partially camouflaged by some half-chewed butternut) was sheer ecstasy.  The fact that she spent more time playing with the box and that the poor doll is now living in the garden is irrelevant.  The surprise is what counts.   Clients also like surprises.  And not necessarily ones that come gift wrapped in boxes.  New ideas, added value, quicker systems...these all count as fabulous surprises for clients – and don’t have to cost a cent.

Kids grow up

Too quickly.  Notwithstanding the small fortunes you land up spending on clothes that last two weeks before they are too small, kids need new and exciting things to stimulate them.  Don’t expect to regurgitate the same routine for very long.  I find myself already having to adapt to the needs of a toddler – all of a sudden, playing peekaboo through the duvet is no longer as fun as it was three weeks ago.  Diva-Eva is too cool for Chicco, Fisher Price and Tiny Love.  I will soon have to venture into the overpriced world of Barbie, Dora the Explorer and that once-innocent Hannah Montana.    Clients are the same.  They grow up, their needs change and they look for new exciting things that challenge them.  Make sure you aren’t stuck singing nursery rhymes when your client is already on hard rock.