Real Client Relationships do not require contracts

Many will not agree with that statement (title above), not in this un-trusting world, but it should be true. If you really do have a solid, trusting, sharing relationship with a client, boss, student or partner then why do you need a contract? Think about that for a while. As soon as someone asks for a contract it basically means that they do not trust you. As trainers we are often torn between telling the client that this program will not meet the expected outcomes or just doing it before another organisation does. I have told clients on a number of occasions that their idea would not work and they still wanted to go ahead with it for a variety of reasons. I always make it clear what I think and then they can decide but if it doesn’t work they often forget what you told them at the early stages. I think this is also part of the trust that should occur in any relationship. If you are paying a professional to provide a professional service, listen to them. How many of you argue with your Doctor or Lawyer when they tell you what to do? What I am advocating here and something that I am going to personally trial is to tell a client up front how I intend to behave in this new relationship and how I expect them to behave. I have played around with a few rules which I would explain to the client. These are not fixed yet but here is how they look at the moment.

1. I am going to operate with full integrity
2. I will communicate with you frankly and honestly
3. I will respect your choices and decisions even if I do disagree
4. I will tell you when a choice or decision goes against my professional knowledge and experience
5. I expect you to respect my knowledge and experience and carry out steps 1 to 4 in any activities associated with me
6. If any of steps 1 to 5 do not happen then it should be immediately discussed and resolved. This may lead to a termination of the relationship if any of the steps was broken knowingly.

I should make it clear though this is not a contract and I wouldn’t get anyone to sign it. This would be part of my project plan or printed on my tender or estimate. They may not even agree to it but it is something I am going to follow in future.

What do you think? Always interested in your thoughts.

The training tips 56 video on this topic has been posted to the various locations. Enjoy. Please feel free to tell others about them and about the new series Ask Logicool. Which reminds me I need questions for next weeks show.