LHC Client Workshop 101: How to Navigate Client Work with Confidence
For all you business owners and entrepreneurs out there who serve a list of clients in some capacity - this one is for you! Here is a little background about me to give some context.
After I received my MBA in 2018, I was confused about what direction to go in with my career. I started picking up marketing clients offering social media services, website design, SEO, you name it - I said I could do it. This immediately turned into a crash course and trial-by-fire situation where I was saying, “Yes, I can do that!” to a prospect and then immediately wondering, “Okay, so how am I going to learn to do that for them.” This obviously left me feeling anxious and nervous just about 24/7 - aka not a way to run a business.
Fast forward to today, and I have diligently worked to fine-tune my service offerings. It’s not perfect but any means, but I have found general techniques to help me manage unique and different client workloads, streamline processes, and not over-commit.
Here are three tips that I give to you, whether you desire to start your own marketing agency with clients, have clients in any capacity, or offer a service.
Before saying yes to anything, clearly understand what the scope of work is. Take time to visualize the steps you will take to complete this proposed work. Imagine the systems you could put in place to help yourself be efficient. The more concrete steps you can create in your mind, the less anxious you will be about actually doing the work. These concrete steps become your blueprint for completing the work saying goodbye to anxious overthinking like, “Did I do everything I said I would do for my client?!?”
Whether you’re just starting out with a new client or you’ve had one for a while, take time to listen to your mind, heart, and body. Is it telling you, “I’M OVERWHELMED.” or do you feel peaceful? What are your body and your mind telling you about a certain client workload? Listen to those internal voices because it could be the Lord nudging you to gently either let something go or to get help. Get help in the things that zap you of your energy. Sometimes, it’s easy to know exactly what you should say goodbye to, but other times, it’s challenging because you’re loving the actual work - just don’t have the energy or time for it. I would suggest bringing this to prayer and asking the Lord to let His hand take away anything in your business that is taking up too much brain and heart space, essentially pushing Him out. Be aware of what He might be calling you to do and ask for the strength and courage to take action in His promptings.
Create systems for the clients you say yes to. How do you plan to attack the work and complete it? If it is every month, what days of the week will you set aside to complete the tasks? How does the workflow from creation to download to emailing, etc? What free technologies or resources could help you do this task? These are the questions you have to ask yourself to stay sane and focused. You will be so thankful you took the time to think of systems because it will free your brain up to actually get the work done versus having to try and remember your processes every time you go to complete a task.
This is not an exhaustive list, but it hopefully helps you feel a little less crazy about yourself and your workload. You’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed - I get it! It is an ever-evolving work pattern, especially since life changes every moment, and you have to be flexible.
Given my experience with marketing, I am opening up a wait list for something I’m calling My Catholic Social! The purpose behind it is to help Catholic business owners and entrepreneurs with their social calendars when it comes to posting Catholic feast days, the gospels, holidays, etc. My Catholic Social will send a monthly newsletter for a minimal cost straight to your inbox. It will highlight the upcoming month’s feast days, gospels, suggested social copy, and Canva templates. Join the waitlist here! I am so excited to make this become a reality, so stay tuned for more!
God bless my amazing friends! Keep pressing into the Lord’s call on your heart, and let’s continue to pray for each other to keep pushing forward.