Powerful You! Women's Network

Your Kindness
By Tami R Principe

A simple act of kindness goes a long way. It doesn't matter if it is something huge or something small, it is appreciated. Children are naturally kind to everyone. They learn this while playing and watching adults. Somewhere along the lines our sense of kindness, thoughtfulness either grows or dies out some. People use to wave at you for no reason, whether they knew you or not. People use to walk up and shake your hand and introduce themselves for no reason at all.

In reflection, I remember neighbors meeting and waving all the time. If you were sick, one of the neighbors brought over some soup. You see it doesn't matter if you are opening the door for someone or if you are mowing their grass or you simply shoot a stranger a smile. You need to show some form of it daily, it is good for the soul. If you can imagine for one moment what it feels like to give an act of kindness, can you imagine receiving one? A smile speaks a thousand words. It's easy, doesn't cost anything and knows no language. A smile warms the soul.

Not use to giving or receiving the gift of kindness. Throw someone off guard. Offer to take out the garbage for your elderly neighbor, or the next time you go to the store call and ask them if they need anything. These little simple gestures will not only make their day, but it will make you so happy that you will start to spread more and more kindness.

We all need to act on it. We all can use a ray of sunshine every now and then. We all could use a helping hand here and there. So, forget all barriers both near and far. Stretch your limits and go out of your way for someone. Don't be afraid to show others what you are made of. And if you believe in karma, you already know it will come back to you tenfold.

One thing to remember about kindness is that it could be the smallest act that you do but it could mean the world to someone else. Sometimes it appears that we live in a cold, heartless place and not a soul on earth truly cares about us. Then you have someone that is showing you their kindness out of their heart and you have hope again. Wishing you all the kindness in the world!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tami Principe
My website, http://www.WomensRecreation.com, is designed to offer others hope and encouragement. My books are "Walk in Peace" and "My Soulful Journey" which can be purchased on my website. I also have a Blog Talk Radio show. Feel free to listen to the archives at http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/womensrecreation.

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How To Deal With Difficult Clients
By Jennifer Davey

For self-employed professionals and small businesses, difficult clients are a fact of life. Even if you rarely make mistakes and treat all your clients with appropriate professionalism, sooner or later you're going to make an error or a client's expectations won't be met. And of course, there are always going to be a few clients who are having a bad day, who have an unclear understanding of what you do, or who are simply hard to please. These can be difficult situations, but it's important not to let it get you down. When you're in the midst of an uncomfortable client interaction, always remember the vast majority of your clients who are happy with what you do.

Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with difficult clients.

Listen: If your client is dissatisfied, listen to their concerns (do not interrupt them) if you need to take notes, do it. Your goal is to become clear on WHY they are upset. When it's your turn to talk, start by recapping what they said. This lets the client know you have understood what they said and makes them feel heard. At the same time, however, keep in mind that you are not obligated to continue the interaction if a client becomes abusive in any way.

Take time: If you are communicating with the client primarily through email or another online platform, don't respond immediately. Take some time to absorb what's going on and to take the edge off your initial feelings. Give yourself at least an hour or two. If you can wait until the next day, even better.

De-escalate: If the client takes an angry, annoyed, or short tone with you, don't respond in kind. Doing so will only make things worse. Be the level-headed one in the situation, and maintain an air of total professionalism throughout the interaction.

Find the kernel of truth: When a client responds to your work with harsh criticism, your natural impulse may be to deny that you did anything wrong and to dismiss the client's concerns as unreasonable. Try to resist this impulse, and use this as an opportunity for a little reflection. Was there a breakdown in communication, and if so, where did it occur? Were you cutting corners or not working to your highest standards? What should you do in the future to prevent these situations? It could be that the client is indeed being unreasonable, but a little self-reflection never hurts.

Consider taking the loss: There's no use getting into a drawn-out, tense situation over a relatively small amount of money. Dealing with difficult clients can be emotionally taxing, not to mention time-consuming. At some point, it's just not worth it anymore. So if you can afford to give a refund and end the relationship, regardless of who is right and who is wrong, consider doing so.

Of course, you may also run into situations where the client is not necessarily angry but perhaps difficult in other ways. For example, dealing with scope creep (the phenomenon where a project that has already been agreed to continues to grow little by little) requires a special type of tact, especially when it becomes necessary to ask for more money. And then there are difficult situations such as when you need to extend a deadline or turn down a project from a regular client.

In each case, try to see things from the client's perspective, and meet your client's needs as best you can while looking out for yourself and your business. Be as honest as you can without getting too personal. Make sure your clients know that you value their business even if you cannot fully meet their needs at this time. Keep all your interactions professional and polite, and your clients will usually understand.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Davey is a Small Business Coach and Marketing Strategist specializing in helping small businesses grow, boost profits, and get more clients. If you would like to learn more about developing good client relationships while building your business, download her free report, "What You Need to Know to Be Successful at Getting Clients," at www.jjscoaching.com/free-report/

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Don’t get frustrated. Get ORGANIZED!

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ABOUT THE SHOW:

A show bound for off-Broadway and beyond, CHICK SOUP: A Musical Recipe for Friendship is a feel-good musical about how women connect with each other. Four women of mixed ages and backgrounds meet in a gynecologist’s office and prove that best friendships can begin from chance encounters. The songs touch on the basic shared elements of women's lives: “Shoes”, “She’s Having a Baby”, “Hand Pick Your Man”, “Cherish Your Girlfriends” and among others, “Chick Soup”, the title song that welcomes all to the joyful sharing of sisterhood. 

CHICK SOUP is the perfect way to celebrate girlfriends as a fundraiser or special event for your PTO, charity or women's group. Our creative team is focused on bringing a positive and encouraging experience to all our audience members!  Take a moment and visit www.chicksoup.com for a brief look at recent performances and fundraisers.

We have launched a Chick Soup Goes to NYC campaign for a week long run in a midtown Manhattan theater in October 2012. Just like in the new television series Smash, it takes a loyal following to stage a musical. If you want to be part of the excitement of launching CHICK SOUP, you can be a backer for our show! Pledges include tickets and some exciting rewards at www.kickstarter.com/projects/chicksoup/chick-soup-goes-to-nyc Then, we want you to come experience the show, along with producers, agents and others who can help to take CHICK SOUP all the way.