What Is Your Client’s Love Language?

When you have a client, you are in a relationship. In order to cultivate this relationship, it’s important to understand how your client shows his/her love. Once you know that, then you can make sure that you give him/her the love back.

This might sound a little a little strange. Who cares what your client’s love language is as long as you do a good job for them?

Unfortunately, when you get into a relationship, whether it’s a staff member, client or personal relationship, it’s important to know how the person likes to give and receive affection. By knowing this and tailoring yourself to that, you will keep the client, staff member and or personal relationship for a long time.

In recent months, my staff and I read, The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. After reading the book, we took time out and went through our client roster to figure out the contact’s love language. Although this book is based on the love languages between a couple, we knew it would still make an impact on our clients. As a result, our retention rate increased by more than 50%.

Here’s what you should look for when determining your client’s love language:

Words of Affirmation – Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your client’s love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to them. Hearing the words, “you did great” or “you are really superior at what you do” are important.

Quality Time – In the vernacular of Quality Time, your client likes full, undivided attention. They like to know the person cares about them as a client. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

Receiving Gifts – Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the thoughtfulness and effort behind the gift. If your client speaks this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that they are known, they are cared for and important.

Acts of Service – Going above and beyond for the client is what will make them feel loved. If you do extra work or respond over the weekend they know you are committed. Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

Physical Touch/Connection – This client cares mostly about the personal connection they have with you. They want to feel they connect with you and have a relationship with you.

By looking at each love language, we are able to quickly identify what our client’s seem to appreciate most – going out to lunch/dinner, receiving elaborate holiday gifts, talking about things we have in common, letting them know they excel in what they do and that they are different and unique, orworking extra hard and late into the night to turn around a project.