{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"222 | 8 Steps For Leading Effective Client Meetings","description":"Your clients are the center of your business. Building strong relationships with them is an important part of growth, so today we\u2019re talking about clients - specifically, how to lead an awesome client meeting. I\u2019ve been coaching my team on how best to do this now that we\u2019re scaling up and bringing in more people, and I want to share my insights with you.  These steps seem simple, but even the smallest changes and adjustments can have a huge impact on the success of your client meeting.  \u201cNow more than ever, as more and more of us are remote, we need to make sure we're letting our clients have all the signals they need for the best communication and the best meeting possible\u201d ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways 1. Have the right people in the room Make sure the right parties are in attendance on both sides. Don\u2019t be afraid to leave people out because there is such a thing as too many people in a meeting. It\u2019s best to have all the major decision-makers and managers there. 2. Set up all the tech that supports your meeting We do weekly meetings. But whatever the iteration is, make sure you have your Zoom, Calendars, etc., ready to go to optimize efficiency.   3. Sort out your personal setup Make sure you use video for your virtual meetings and that your setup for the meeting is good. Good lighting, a clean environment, and a good microphone make all the difference. 4. Have an agenda ready Having an outline is invaluable in making sure that a meeting runs smoothly. It creates a clear picture of who will be covering the different aspects of your meeting. Make sure to give your clients some transparency into your process if you won\u2019t be providing them with an agenda ahead of time.  5. Take control and be assertive Being assertive in a meeting isn\u2019t about power, it\u2019s about making sure you get through everything you need to before the time is up. Screen sharing and narrating your thought process is a great way to preemptively answer questions and give clarity to your clients on your decisions while also allowing for feedback.  6. Make sure everyone feels heard Not all the feedback you get needs to be implemented, but it\u2019s important to show your clients that you heard it. Use phrasing that affirms their feedback, even if you\u2019re not going to use it.  7. Don\u2019t be afraid to push back You are the expert, don\u2019t forget that! You don\u2019t have to belittle your clients\u2019 suggestions, but if it doesn\u2019t work, kindly tell them why it wouldn\u2019t work or why you don\u2019t think it\u2019s the best idea for the project.  8. Take conversations offline If things start to get sidetracked about a detail of the project, don\u2019t hesitate to set up a follow-up meeting to allow for a deeper dive. Your goal is to keep the current meeting on track and not waste time. Links Proposals That Sell Themselves Stay in Touch Follow Avani on Twitter Follow Avani on Instagram Follow Avani on LinkedIn ","author_name":"The 6-Figure Freelancer Podcast | Freelancing | Entrepreneurship | Clients | Finances | Motivation | Personal Development | Mindset","author_url":"http:\/\/www.avanimiriyala.com","html":"