Are you friends with any of your clients??

[lcla l]

As a qualified nurse i always believed you should maintain professionalism with patients and this crossed over to my clients when i became a therapist full time. However i have had some clients for over 5 years now ,some nearly 10 ! They know alot about my life (up to a point!) and i sometimes tell them things (if they ask) that i would not tell new clients as i feel i know them and they know me.
Do you still maintain a professional distance with your longterm clients? If they asked you to attend their 50th Birthday party/wedding reception would you go ?? Would you invite them to any large event you were throwing? (or small?!!)

 

[mc94]

Hello Greenqueen,

I think this is something you have to judge on an individual basis. Some lonterm clients are the type that will not take advantage of a friendship, whilst others would, so only you can decide who to be closer to. In all honestly, I find that it is easier to maintain a professional relationship, however, I've not been practising for as long as you. Maybe i would see things differently if i had clients that i knew for 5 or more years.

I knwo what you mean about clients knowing you well. My clients bring me Christmas presents and sent me cards and stuff when my baby was born, but not all are the same, so i just take my cue from them on how to behave with them.

Best of luck

Nisha

xx

 

[jonneyswife1]

Oh i agree...it is judged on an individual basis....i just wondered if anyone else had experienced this ?? x

 

[Prehistoric Pengy!]

If you worked in Sainsburys (or any other type of establishment) would you invite customers to your birthday party?

 

[Andrew Mathew]

Hi Greenqueen. When I first started my business I met a client who I got on with really well. As time progressed this client would invite me over for coffee and we became friends. Everything was ok until I put my prices up. This particular friend/client got very upset with me and thought that as we were "friends" then they should be exempt from paying any price increase.

It was awful as I then felt I had to justify putting my prices up - which is something nobody should have to do. It's a horrible position to be in but it's taught me a valuable lesson - to seperate my personal life from my professional one. After what has happened I wouldn't invite any of my clients to a social event I was holding.

I think when I started out I was a little "green" and thought I could help everybody. I realise now that some people will try to take advantage of others good natures.

 

[Waverly H]

No ! but what if they invited me to theirs??

 

[Lalala09]

Simply put........ no.

Although it can be tempting at times when I really get on with someone, I have never crossed that line. As the thread starter said in the original post