Two To Tango: Freelance Strategic Partnerships

Tango dancers in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Freelance professionals are survivors by nature—savvy, proactive and ambitious. You are forward-thinking and grasp the big-picture, characteristics that led you to be realistic about current business conditions and respond to the risk-averse spending habits of many B2B prospects. You recognize that a defensive strategy is needed to stabilize the ground beneath your feet and make it possible to at least maintain, and preferably increase, your client roster and bottom-line sales revenue. A perusal of articles in the business press and resourceful brainstorming have led you to consider pursuing a partnership with a Freelance colleague. Owners of business entities large and small have long recognized that a good partnership creates competitive advantages, whether the goal is to help the partners stimulate revenue during periods of marketplace fluctuation, or maximize revenue and profit during a booming economy. Bringing in partner is meant to bring additional value—clients, investment capital, business skills, brand recognition, for example— and strengthen the position of the partners.

Recent research suggests that successful business entities often rely on their relationships—de facto partnerships— with peers whose services or products are complementary to one’s own and whose target customers have data-supported potential to become a promising source of new leads for your entity. In fact, within the Software as a Service community, partnerships and event participation are described as among the highest impact growth channels for warm leads.

The Freelance economy holds numerous sources of potential partnership opportunities— vendors, co-working site colleagues, Freelancing colleagues you meet at conferences, business accountants and attorneys. Even your SCORE mentor could suggest that you meet with a fellow Freelancer who s/he also mentors and discuss the possibility of partnering on certain types of projects. If you find the possibility of introducing a partnership to your Freelance business entity intriguing, here are some things to consider.

1. View the partnership as a strategic asset, not as the cure for a problem.

First, why do you want to form a partnership? What do you hope to gain and what assets can you bring to the table that might persuade a Freelance colleague to engage in a partnership with you? In order for the partnership to be useful and produce the outcomes that you (and the partner) want, you must be honest about your motivations. So, what are you looking for in a partnership? Start the decision-making process by clarifying your partnership wish list. Next, make an inventory of the resources you can offer to a partner and use that list to articulate your Unique Selling Proposition to a Freelance colleague you hope will become your business partner. Keep in mind that a successful partnership is about sharing resources and is not a rescue mission to save a failing enterprise.

  • Do you want occasional collaborators—say, extra help on certain projects—or an ongoing partnership?
  • A partner whose clients are potential prospects for your services and your clients are potential prospects for the partner’s services? Ideally, you and the partner would see a growing client list.
  • A partner whose services are suitable for co-promotion opportunities, such as the McDonald’s and Coca-Cola #Better Together campaign and the Apple Watch Nike+? Co-promotion is meant to introduce your brand to a wider audience and result in enhanced brand awareness and recognition, with the expectation of increased lead generation, sales revenue growth and market share.
  • A partner whose services, when offered in tandem to your own, will result in the capacity to provide solutions that prospects will perceive as delivering more valuable than your current offering.
  • A partner who will share certain business expenses, such as co-promotion advertising costs and/or office space rental.

2. Goals that align and a cultural fit.

In a functioning and mutually beneficial partnership agreement, there are only winners and there are no losers. A partnership is never a zero sum game where only one person wins. Honest, respectfully expressed communication and transparency are demonstrations of respect and the foundation of authenticity. In a recent McKinsey report, alignment on objectives, effective communication and trust were most often present when partnerships and other joint ventures succeeded and most often absent when partnerships failed.

As well, a mutually accepted definition of good work ethic should be agreed-upon and include a shared understanding of how to handle relevant business practices, such as what constitutes timely and appropriate follow-up regarding client referrals, for example. In this way one develops a reputation as a good partner and the partnership can deliver on its intended purpose.

3. Clearly define roles, responsibilities and money.

Establish and clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each partner and that includes money. Discussing payment protocols upfront will prevent ugly misunderstandings. Will the partner who handles the design work on a website project be paid at the same rate as the tech person who perfects SEO and the speed of page loading—or will you each bill at your usual rate? Put everything in writing to avoid conflicts later. Depending on the state in which you operate, your partnership may require a written agreement.

Regarding roles and responsibilities, will there be a quarterly or semi-annual performance quota for client referrals generated, networking events attended, or other work-related activities? A discussion of what constitutes good work ethic and productivity metrics will be helpful.

4. Start small and work out the kinks. 

Where possible, start small and avoid diving into a big project until the partners become familiar with one another’s working style. Instead, rehearse your partnership by taking on a small project. Creating a story board to describe how the partners together will collaborate successfully on a project can be very useful. Remember what Avatar creator James Cameron and others remind us: “A vision without a plan for execution is just an hallucination.”

5. Frequent, honest, feedback.

Misunderstandings and disagreements are best acknowledged and managed in an environment of regular, honest, feedback and discussion. partnership problems are potentially costly. Scheduling regular check-ins for the partners, even if there is little to discuss and the meeting ends quickly, is cheap and easy insurance for dealing with problems the right way and at the right time.

6. Move quickly and collaboratively when partnership problems arise. 

The land of lost partnerships is littered with avoidance, denial, broken promises, unresolved conflict and denial. Especially if the expectations of an important client have not been delivered, immediate action to correct the lapse and protect the relationship must be taken. Remember what Warren Buffett continually tells himself: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Remember My Name

Face2Face networking has undeniably made its post-pandemic comeback, bringing with it the persuasive energy of body language—sparkling eyes, friendly smiles and warm handshakes—that paves the way to successful networking. The goal of networking is to meet people and build relationships and for that reason it is important to all working professionals, from Freelance photographers to physicians, ballet dancers to bond traders. Meeting professional peers, in particular potential clients or employers, is integral to your professional life and that is especially true for business owners and the independently employed.

When you think of networking organized events may come to mind, such as those hosted by neighborhood business association, chambers of commerce and professional associations but in reality, networking can successfully take place in any environment, from the golf course to a dinner party hosted by a friend. While networking can happen in either business or casual environments, the process requires good manners and a good attitude and you want to get the basics right. One networking basic you’d be wise to get right is remembering the name of the person you’ve just met.

Or maybe the two of you met six months ago but one thing is certain—if you want to make a good impression, remembering that person’s name is one of the best ways to do it. However, many of us are not good at remembering names.

“What’s in a name?” asks Juliet Capulet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Plenty. When someone remembers your name, it communicates the value that person has assigned to you and is, as you know, a great compliment. Keith Ferrazzi, author of the New York Times bestseller Never Lead Alone (2024) and founder and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, a research and consulting firm based in Los Angeles, who also presents a course on networking and relationship-building, advises that most of all, you should decide to care about remembering names, “If you make a conscious decision that you are going to remember names,” he explains, “it’s because you care about the people you meet and you will immediately become much better at doing it!” Here’s how you can reinforce your memory for names and give a good start to establishing relationships that are the purpose of your networking activities:

1. Listen and repeat
When meeting someone for the first time, pay close attention. Your goal is to create conditions that help you remember the name of the person you’ve had the good fortune to meet. Make the most of this networking opportunity by turning on your listening skills and focusing your attention as the introduction takes place. Look your new acquaintance in the eyes and smile, to acknowledge his/her presence. Your first opportunity to say his/her name is when you reply to the introduction, I’m happy to meet you, (name).” This action is an important step toward reinforcing the name in your memory as you greet the new acquaintance.

Now that networking has begun, shut down competing claims on your attention, such as the sudden awareness that the prospect you’ve been chasing for six months is at the buffet table. Instead, start a line of small talk about the event; you might ask what motivated your new acquaintance to attend and if s/he has attended the event previously? During the pleasantries, as you learn something of his/her professional background, listen for socially appropriate opportunities to repeat the name. You might even invite him/her along to the buffet table as you chat. Who knows, your new acquaintance may be a colleague of the prospect you’d like to connect with and being in the company of this individual will work in your favor. That is the essence of networking, is it not?

2. Associate and anchor
Create if you’re able, an association for the name of your new acquaintance. As the two of you talk, you may discover common acquaintances or business or social affiliations and these commonalities can be used to help you remember his/her name. Charan Rangathan, a neuroscience professor at the University of California at Davis and author of the New York Times bestseller Why We Remember (2024), advises us to “… be intentional about remembering what matters.” Being intentional means taking active steps to remember what is noteworthy and relevant and allowing yourself to forget or ignore what is unimportant. 

Rangathan emphasizes that the secret to intentionally remembering a name is to make an association between the name and the face. “When you tell me that you find it hard to remember a person’s name, what you’re really saying is you can’t remember the association between the name and the face,” he says. In other words, you can recall a name, and you can recall a face, but you must make an effort to link the two. Simply repeating a person’s name isn’t enough–-the link between name and face is what matters.

Furthermore, Ranganath notes that, “…the more background information you have about a person, the name becomes easier to attach to the face.” So, as noted above, segue into a conversation and move toward organically building a relationship with your new acquaintance. Practice his/her name by using it once or twice more in the conversation as you get to know each other.

3. Admit when you forget
If a name slips your mind, don’t panic—just acknowledge the lapse graciously by asking, “I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name; would you remind me, please?” No one will think less of you for doing so; in fact, it’s safe to assume that most will appreciate your desire to remember their name and begin establishing a relationship by reconfirming the first step—remembering that person’s name.

4. Name tag strategies

The humble and utilitarian name tag is a valuable tool for networking and making connections. The name tag is an icebreaker and facilitates introductions, which is the first step of relationship-building. Name tags announce your name, business or company name and your title, information that makes you relatable and invites others to get to know you. Second, name tags ensure that you’ll remember the names of those you meet, especially those you’d like to follow up with. Name tags can also serve a third purpose—if you’re able to arrive soon after the event door opens, once you’ve claimed your own name tag you can often survey name tags that are on the registration table, waiting to be claimed. You may be delighted to see the name of someone you’d like to meet or with whom you’d like to reconnect—and that person will arrive soon!

Name tags can get the ball rolling on introductions that might lead to building good relationships, but did you know that there is a correct way to wear one? This may not be at top of mind, but you’ve probably met a few people who wore theirs incorrectly and you might agree that it makes for an awkward situation. After all, the purpose of a name tag is to identify registered meeting attendees and allow fellow participants to see (and remember) one another’s names. Below are practical hints that guide name tag etiquette and make the meet & greet easier at your next networking event.

  • Wear the name tag on your right side, two or three inches below your collarbone, which positions it to be easily seen while shaking hands, when your right side will move forward and bring the name tag into view. Right side name tag placement makes it easy for those you meet to read your name tag without having to ask your name or strain their neck to read it. Name tags worn on the left side can make it difficult for others to see your name during the handshake.
  • Keep your name tag (or lanyard) visible at all times and wear it throughout the event, so that your name (plus company name and title) will be visible and perhaps spark an introduction and conversation. Take care not to allow your name tag or lanyard to become trapped beneath clothing or accessories; make sure that your jacket, sweater, necktie, scarf, or other items do not obscure your valuable networking resource.
  • When name tags or lanyards are not pre-printed and attendees must write-in their name, use lettering that’s large enough to be easily readable from a distance. If your writing is too small, people will have to squint or get uncomfortably close to read your name. Remember that your name tag is a personal identification tool that has the potential to play a role in building your business or career by facilitating introductions and promoting the development of relationships.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: ©Zoonar (2013)

The Case for Face2Face

Whether the topic is business or personal, most studies show that between 60 % – 90 % of communication is nonverbal and furthermore, nonverbal communication techniques, for example, tone of voice and physical distance between yourself and the person with whom you are speaking, are intuitively used by all humans. Moreover, within the first few minutes of meeting and speaking with someone, we begin to make decisions about what the other person’s intentions are and figure out if that person is trustworthy and safe to do business or socialize with.

Those study findings throw cold water on the 318.66 million U.S. citizens who in 2023, according to the German data research firm Statista, used the internet to send email and SMS (text) messages, follow social media and join videoconferences to communicate with colleagues, family and friends. Electronic communication platforms are quite convenient but numerous reliable studies show that nonverbal communication signals are challenged to cross the digital divide, causing unspoken but nevertheless relevant nuance to slip through the cracks.

Can any of us know how much of a story may have been lost when told through a digital method? If that’s not enough of a lapse, is a digitally transmitted story more vulnerable to misinterpretation? Nonverbal communication—facial expressions, posture, physical gestures and tone of voice, for example—is a vital component of human communication that can signal how you really feel, despite what you put into words. An awareness and ability to recognize and read the nonverbal communication signals transmitted to you and by you will greatly enhance your communication skills and relationships. In conversations both casual and critical, you want to understand the impact of verbal and nonverbal messages, what you send and what you receive. In their 1972 book Effective Business Communication, Herta A. Murphy, Herbert W. Hildebrandt and Jane P. Thomas noted, “Sometimes nonverbal messages contradict the verbal; often they express true feelings more accurately than the spoken or written language”.

There are three principal elements of nonverbal communication: facial expressions, body language and overall appearance. When speaking with someone it’s important that you are alert to his/her nonverbal gestures, because the story is being told on more than just the verbal channel. In fact, people are more likely to engage you in future conversations and consider having a social or business relationship with you when you recognize and act upon their nonverbal cues. Below are 12 nonverbal communication signals that you may observe, decode and respond to in your next conversation.

Cheerful face and voice

1. With appropriately displayed smiles and nods, you’ll communicate to your conversation counterpart that you are listening to his/her opinions and that you understand and agree with his/her story. Communication experts unanimously agree that listening is the most important communication skill; everyone wants to be heard.

2. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Charles Duhigg, author of Supercommunicators: The Power of Conversation and the Hidden Language of Connection (February 2024), notes that talking and laughing together is a bonding experience that contributes to relationship-building. Laughing with (but not at) someone promotes a happy mood and is another way to signal that you’re listening to the story.

3. Maintain good eye contact by looking your conversation counterpart(s) in the eye as the two of you talk to, again, display your interest in their story. However, you must periodically pull back the eye contact by taking brief breaks, perhaps to contemplate your next answer, for example. You don’t want your eye contact to be perceived as staring (that is, aggressive).

4. Regulate your voice so that you speak in a pleasant and confident tone that is authoritative yet not intimidating and matches the purpose and topic of the conversation. Speak clearly, enunciate well and pace your speech so that it’s neither too fast nor too slow for the occasion. Avoid raising the pitch of your voice as you end a sentence, as if you are asking a question rather than making a statement.

5. Mirror the other person’s facial expressions to demonstrate that you agree with and like the other person. Mirroring validates the opinions, wants and needs of the person you’re speaking with.

Body talk

6. Align your posture by gently lifting your chest, lifting up from your lower back and straightening your spine. Then, pull your shoulders back but keep them relaxed, so that you don’t look (and feel) tense. Activate your core muscles to support your midsection and comfortably maintain posture. In other words, don’t slouch; instead, communicate that you are cognitively present and ready to communicate and connect.

7. Place your legs hip distance apart when sitting or standing. When sitting, cross your ankles, rather than your legs, to demonstrate that you are relaxed and listening.

8. Leaning in gently is yet another body language gesture that indicates you are listening. As noted above, listening is the most powerful confirmation that signals to the other person that you hear and respect him/her.

9. Mirror the body language that you observe in your counterpart, to signal that you relate to him/her and that you agree with his/her point of view. Smile when s/he smiles; become serious when his/her facial expressions and vocal tone reflects that emotion. You want to communicate that you are on the same wavelength and understand his/her opinion or purpose.

Arms and hands

10. When, for example, the conversation takes place with participants standing—maybe you’re attending an industry expo or maybe you’re at a party—keep arms relaxed at your sides as the other person speaks, to show that you are listening and open to hearing what s/he has to say. It’s often best to keep your arms uncrossed, so that you don’t appear confrontational or intimidating.

Whether sitting or standing, use your hands to gesture while you speak, to enhance your credibility and confirm your engagement with the listener and topic. There is also evidence that using hand gestures while speaking improves your thinking processes. However, take care that hand and arm movements are not overly expansive and distracting.

11. Greet others with a firm handshake–but not too firm. A firm handshake is one of the most important body language moves, because it sets the tone for the entire conversation. Who wants to shake hands and have a conversation with a wet noodle?

12. Be aware and respectful of different cultural greeting and departure practices prior to your meeting. For example, when you greet the person with whom you’ll speak, will you shake hands, bow, or air kiss both cheeks? End the meeting with a firm handshake (or bow, or air kiss on alternate cheeks) and eye contact, to signal that you enjoyed your time and hope to meet again.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © Erik Arazas. Meeting and greeting with a traditional handshake and nose kiss at the Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi during Eid Al Fitr 2012, the festival that celebrates the conclusion of the month-long observance of Ramadan (Ramadan 2024 begins March 10, Eid Al Fitr 2024 is April 9).

Speed Date: How to Connect With Clients Faster

Time is money and relationships matter. Those sometimes conflicting realities must be confronted when, for example, you meet someone who may become a prospective client by chance, maybe at a business association meeting or even at a backyard barbecue. Somehow you two start talking and along with names and what brought each of you to the event, what each of you does for a living is revealed and it’s an aha! moment. As luck would have it, your new acquaintance is looking for a talented Freelancer with your kind of expertise to get an upcoming project done. Excellent!—now how do you connect quickly and start the process of establishing trust and rapport with someone you’ve only just met?

Building a relationship that you’d like to expand to include business requires finesse. It may be off-putting to appear to rush things but if you don’t move it along, your opportunity to do business may stall out.

Because you’ve only just met, each of you is an unknown quantity to the other. You’ve shared only cursory information but a spark has been ignited. The next step a successful Freelancer takes is to swiftly move to build a connection with this intriguing person. Happily, there are a few effective and easily executed hacks that in short order can help you steer the relationship in the right direction and avoid a cringeworthy scene as you do.

1. Repeat after me

Your prospect wants to know that you understand what s/he needs your product or service to deliver. There are simple and intuitive ways to convey that you “get it” as you and your prospect discuss the possibility of doing business.

One good way is to confirm that you’re on the same wavelength is to incorporate, that is, repeat, a few key words or short phrases that your prospect uses to describe what s/he wants to achieve. Do that and you’ll communicate to the prospect that you two literally speak the same language.

2. Feel their pain

Empathy is an essential component of every healthy relationship. When your goal is to fast- track a serendipitous meeting and build it into a mutually beneficial experience, acknowledge the urgency, excitement, importance, concern and/ or stress that motivates your prospect to seek a solution and demonstrate that you not only understand what s/he wants to achieve, and why, but you also validate his/her reasoning and judgment.

What motivates your prospect to obtain a solution and address the matter may be a problem to solve or a success to celebrate. While in conversation, your job is to affirm good news or encourage a prospect who faces a challenge. Either way, describe how your product or service can expertly and efficiently either save the day or maximize a happy occasion.

3. Sum it up

Confirm your understanding of what your prospect would like to achieve with the assistance of your products or services and you’ll boost the prospect’s confidence as you do. The budding relationship will strengthen as your prospect’s confidence, trust and comfort level grows. Sum up the points made by yourself and the prospect, distilling and paraphrasing what each of you has said, and confirm that you see the big picture of what your prospect has in mind and your capability to fulfill the objectives.

If for some reason either of you has misinterpreted or omitted some relevant information, a correction and reconfirmation can be quickly made. Showing the prospect that you’ve listened and understand his/ her priorities, concerns and goals is, BTW, a compliment and a sign of respect. Your prospect will know that s/he has been heard and that his/her feelings, judgment, priorities and goals are valued.

4. Next steps

While your prospect is basking in the glow of having found a capable, trustworthy, good-natured problem-solver who appears to be someone with whom s/ he can connect and work successfully, suggest that the two of you schedule a face2face or video meeting. It is in your interest to move the process steadily forward and into substantive talks. You have business to discuss!

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: In 1977, actress Marlo Thomas was invited to be interviewed on The Phil Donahue (talk) Show. I watched the episode and it was something to see! No doubt about it, Phil and Marlo connected in a live broadcast from Chicago. The couple married in 1980. They live in Manhattan.

Do It Better: Perfecting the Customer Experience

In today’s competitive business world to delight your customers, rather than simply satisfying them, is critical to the success of your venture. Customer delight is the new standard. To delight your customers means exceeding their expectations and creating a highly positive and memorable experience with your product or brand. Delight calls upon your entire team , customer-facing and back office, to smoothly collaborate to deliver timely, efficient and pleasant service to customers by focusing on their needs, challenges, questions and preferences.

Satisfied customers are good for your company, but delighted customers help you much more. Customers who carry the memory of their delightful experiences with your organization are more likely to become loyal customers and brand advocates who enthusiastically make referrals, give testimonials and reward your company with glowing online reviews. They become extensions of your marketing department.

When you accomplish this, you’ll build a strong relationship with your customers that makes them want to remain loyal brand advocates and promoters. Read on to better understand how your organization can achieve this level of service.

  1. Personalize every customer experience—Start at the top by addressing all customers and prospects by name in each marketing email. Furthermore, the product or service that you promote in those emails should be something that the recipients might possibly use. Obtain this information by resarching your customers. As always, knowing the customer is key.
  2. Quick response and follow-up—A critical aspect of solving problems for customers is responding to them ASAP — meaning, a big component of customer delight is the ability to be available and responsive whenever your customers reach out. Whether the issue is big or small, show your customers that you’re always prioritizing them by responding quickly.
  3. Resolve customer problems fast—The first and most important thing your organization needs to do is solve whatever problems your current and prospective customers are experiencing. Offering your customers a solution to a challenge they’re facing, or a way to achieve the goal they’re working towards, is what motivated them to do business with you — so don’t disappoint them. Offer your customers solutions that align with their individual wishes, needs, and preferences. The same goes for prospects and potential customers. Even though they aren’t paying customers just (yet), potential customers require you to solve their problems as well. not only should you solve customers’ problems in the short term, but you should think ahead for their future needs, too. Going beyond the immediate solution to provide information and ways to help your customers manage their challenges — and teach them to do so on their own, if and when possible — is how you can solve for the future, too.
  4. Help customers have the best experience possible—Make sure you understand why people are buying your product or service to determine how to help them succeed. When you truly understand what it is people need from a product or service like yours, you’ll be able to target those pain points and solve for them to exceed customer expectations. It can also be on a smaller scale, like the way you train your new employees to handle customer questions. Additionally, help customers succeed by providing them with the right educational resources so they know how to reach out to your service and support teams, get the help they want and need, or find answers to questions on their own.
  5. Listen to customer feedback—It doesn’t feel good to hear feedback that’s critical of your company, but if you’re serious about delivering the best possible customer service, you must face the unvarnished truth about how your product or service meets expectations, or doesn’t. You must learn what disappoints. Then you can fix it. Then you become more aware, smarter, faster and more successful. Your customers will tell you, one way or another. Listen to honest feedback, take chronic complainers ith a grain of salt.
  6. Loyal customers receive preferential treatment and perks —Loyal customers are the bedrock of your business and it would be inconsiderate and unwise to take them for granted. Keep their business by giving them VIP treatment and communicating to them that you understand and appreciate their business and also them, as individuals. Offer them perks such as discounts, service upgrades, speedy delivery, invitations to special in-store events and other benefits as appropriate. A strong customer loyalty program will make your customers feel appreciated while securing their future business. Did I mention that your loyal customers also make referrals?
  7. Surprise, delight and please —Enable your company to stand out from competitors, then you need to make a lasting impression on your customers. While your primary goal is to solve the customer’s problem, you can create a memorable experience by giving customers more than they ever anticipated. Customers expect to see their needs fulfilled, but are truly delighted when your team goes above and beyond in the customer experience.
  8. Easy to find company contact info—It’s so annoying to have to hunt down a company’s contact information. Customers should be able to get in contact with you easily. Even more importantly, they should have several avenues for reaching you, such as email address, telephone number and social media sites.
  9. Be enthusiastic—In every interaction with current and prospective customers, be sure that you (and your employees or anyone who represents you) displays a positive and welcoming demeanor that complements your brand. Always provide a real, warm, welcoming, helpful and personalized interaction that respects your customer’s time and leaves them happy, satisfied —and with a better understanding of the value of your product or service.
  10. Build a community—Humans are social beings and we enjoy the feeling of belonging to a community or group. Your community might be used as a resource for sharing useful information or act as a medium for users to submit customer reviews. No matter what your community’s function is, creating a space where customers can interact with one another and you and/or your employees adds value to the customer experience that your company provides and continue to delight these people.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: Experience a luxury safari at Jao Camp in the Okavango Delta, Botswana