BEST traits of a client

The dismay and the dejection at the face of an inability to convert a prospect to a client gets written at large in a financial services products advisor's face, which takes a toll on the entire day. Much to the chagrin of the professional, peddling the most important product for the sustenance of the present living standards at a future cost becomes a disdainful affair. The reasons subscribed to the failure of 'prospect-to-client- conversion' gets aligned to the market dynamics of interest rates, lack of direction in equity markets, macro fundamentals, investment indiscipline, lack of knowledge or for that matter disagreement to a payback for a service made availed etc.

What gets ignored is the involvement of a 'human factor' in the entire transaction between the investor and the advisor. Now, why do I call this a transaction? The very fact that we tend to disassociate the 'human factor' between the two parties involved in the act of identifying the need and making avail of the product or service to suit the need; makes us ascertain that a 'transaction' has not taken place. On the contrary, a far bigger transaction is veiled in the entire act, which if, is accepted and re-worked upon, will effect and contrive the desired state of the transaction.

I am a great admirer of the mechanics involved in the inter-personal skills, especially of the acts and the intellect behind the success of the masters in the financial advisory services. These are the ones who have risen in eminence not merely by managing the assets and counts of their investors but by managing the investor. Has it ever occurred to you, that your first encounter with a prospect, who subsequently became a client, was less on the grounds of your profound knowledge, academic credentials and professional pedigree and more on the basis of how you handled him and his expectations?

It’s only on having acquired your maiden account or a client that the knowledge, education and the professional edge became important to reinforce your credential to build up the asset size and the count. So, why do we fail to identify a new situation, either with an existing client or a prospect is a great opportunity to go back to Day One, where we had exercised a measured approach to establish the connect between two people and not between one person and one solution (product).

It is because we get mechanically conditioned to apply the same success technique with different people and then start questioning the macro fundamentals and the market dynamics as a measure of our inability. The art of creating connect between you and your client or a prospect is not about re-inventing the fire but applying one simple thumb rule, "different strokes for different folks". Each one of us are endowed with certain natural traits which gradually gets influenced and shaped by the environment around, that leads to forming our distinct behaviours, conduct, perceptions and interpretations. A careful observation of the people around us helps us appreciate that each one of us are unique by demonstrating a prominent trait or a blend of more than one which can be bucketed as (B.E.S.T) follows:

• Bold - These are the people who do not beat around the bush when it comes to airing their opinion or input either on a person or an event as they are direct. These people are demanding when it comes to tasks and expectations as they themselves are doers and drivers of what they believe and decide. Comes across as extremely confident of themselves.
  
  Suggested ways of handling and managing someone who demonstrates these traits:
  
  Be polite, specific, and clear in your communication.
  Let him feel he had a role to play in the decision.


• Enthusiastic - These people are the easiest to note as they are the life of any circles that they are by being talkative to attract attention to themselves and their views, rarely would they let go of an opportunity to grace social occasions as they are extremely social. They would at times, go to extent of unsolicited assistance and emotional support and land up being incorrectly adjudged as interfering. These people are very fun loving and infuse energy by being enthusiastic to a cause and a concern.
  
  Suggested ways of handling and managing someone who demonstrates these traits:
  
  Be businesslike and professional.
  Be brief and to the point.
  Discuss specific deliverables and the time lines to be adhered to.


• Steady - The most sought after for they are extremely forthcoming, sincere and loyal. They have a remarkable quality of being a very good listener by extending and offering their time, careful views and opinions. One look at them revels that they have pronounced harmony in life and at work. These people do not jump guns, conclusions and queues and instead take a careful note of situations around and the context to act and to arrive at their perspectives.
  
  Suggested ways of handling and managing someone who demonstrates these traits:
  
  Ask and encourage him to share his views.
  Appreciate his patronage and support.
  Establish clear directions with deadlines.
  Don’t be overbearing on him, allow him to be his natural self.


• Technical - When it comes to exercising reverence to facts and figures and cautious guard to ignorance, it is important to recognise this breed as they have an uncanny eye for detail. These people are quality conscious and come across as a good listener with their ear and eyes for facts and figures. You will find these people looking for evidence before arriving at a conclusion or for that matter arriving at any opinion.
  
  Suggested ways of handling and managing someone who demonstrates these traits:
  
  Be specific in your communication.
  Furnish figures and evidence as possible to your claims.
  Share with him the agenda for the meeting and the time with clear objectives and the deadlines.
  Let him decide on his own; don’t attempt to influence his decision.

The suggestions are indicative in nature and to demonstrate proficiency, it is important to meet and observe people, take genuine interest in understanding their traits and apply the thumb rule of 'different strokes for different folks'. The only caution that I would request you to exercise is to accept the fact that as practising financial advisor, not to let the outcome of one interaction decide your intent of relentlessly pursuing the quest for knowing people. Transaction is human and takes place between two people while the successful outcome of the transaction qualifies as business.