Written by: Craig Edwin Holdway
I find that in my career, meeting clients "Eyeball to Eyeball" usually results in a greater level of trust, which manifests into a stronger, meaningful relationship, for both our clients and us, as respected advisors.
When I meet clients in person, it shows respect, and I earn their respect in return. A major benefit is an improvement in mutual communication, which is fundamental to a lasting, trusting relationship as a whole. Actual eye contact is an important display of honesty during my conversations, and when that deeper trust is realized, I feel more confident that the intent of the message the client hears is more fully absorbed. The increased clarity may allow my clients to disseminate the information presented to third parties who may not have been present during the meeting, in a more retainable and digestible format. This mutual eye contact probably helps to alleviate any stress that may be impacting my sleep, and I can honestly extrapolate that the same must be true for my clients.
My conclusion has always been that the benefit of meeting clients "Eyeball to Eyeball" is an important stone in navigating the path across the stream of building strong long-term relationships with clients. This path most likely has immeasurable long- and short-term influences on mutual well-being and health.
The views are my own and are based on my own experiences and are written from personal insights and observations.