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The Golden Rule Revisited: Treating Clients How They Want to Be Treated

Published in the New York Law Journal (subscriber-based)

By: Ioana Good  

We’re all taught about the golden rule, but when it comes to your clients, treat them how THEY want to be treated rather than how you want to be treated.

For generations, we’ve been taught the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. This principle has guided personal interactions, business dealings, and even marketing strategies. However, in the realm of modern marketing, adhering too strictly to this rule may be holding you back from truly connecting with your clients and growing your business. 

While the Golden Rule is rooted in empathy and good intentions, it assumes that everyone shares your preferences, needs, and desires. In reality, your clients are diverse individuals with unique perspectives, challenges, and goals. What works for you may not resonate with them. Consider this scenario: You’re a tech-savvy marketer who prefers concise, data-driven communications. Following the Golden Rule, you might craft marketing messages filled with statistics and brief bullet points. However, if your target audience consists of storytelling enthusiasts who value emotional connections, your approach falls flat, and instead of inspiring action, you may alienate them by failing to address their core needs. 

“Attorneys are often focused on billable hours and may miss the bigger picture of each client’s unique challenges and goals,” said Peter A. Johnson, Esq., founder and president of Law Practice Consultants. ‘The most successful attorneys we coach are those that build lasting relationships with their clients and are always there when needed to help.”

To read the article in full, click here.