When a client arrives, your job is to make them feel comfortable and impress them with your professionalism. It is important that clients have a consistent experience in their contact with your company.
- Leaving the client standing at the reception while finishing what you were doing
- Offering them tea, coffee or biscuits (not everyone likes tea/coffee)
Figure: Bad example - This could start the meeting poorly
- Be dressed appropriately
- Greet them warmly
- Have a firm handshake
- Make eye contact and smile
- Direct them to wait in the waiting area (so they can learn about the company through our tv screens)
- Notify the project manager/developers who are included in the meeting
- Ask someone to bring a couple of glasses of water into the meeting (as everyone drinks water)
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Join the meeting in the boardroom:
- Show some enthusiasm when meeting with the client
- Hand over, and collect, business cards - (organize in front of you, to help you remember their names)
- Use their names a few times early on to help you remember their name
Figure: Good example - You are starting off the meeting well
Tip: You should do a role-play with your manager being the client. Then get feedback on how he/she found the experience.
