Know your value
Access comes at a premium.
“I always want to be there for my clients--they can text me anytime.”
As an Entrepreneur Success Coach, when I hear one of my clients make a statement like that, I know two things: She is trying to be generous and supportive in providing top-notch service, and she is headed for burnout if she doesn’t rethink her policies about access.
The myth of 24/7 access
I love helping my clients overcome limiting beliefs and myths that hold them back from the success they’re capable of achieving, and the myth of 24/7 access is one of my favorites to debunk. It goes like this: If I make myself immediately available to my clients 24/7, they will appreciate me and be thrilled with my services.
Here’s why it’s a myth:
It doesn’t show that you appreciate yourself. Being available all the time for everyone does not place a high premium on your time and expertise, or allow for much of a personal life. If you’re on call 24/7 for every question from every client, what does that say about how you value your time and your position as a leader in your field?
It is counterproductive. You can only keep up being “on” all the time for everyone for so long before it takes a toll on you--emotionally and physically. Eventually, burnout will kick in, and along with the fatigue you may find yourself losing passion for the work you love or resenting the clients you want to serve.
It will keep you from upleveling. If you give the highest level of access to everyone all the time, you’ll miss out on the chance to create premium experiences--at premium prices--for VIP clients.
Standing on your value
When you respect your time, energy, and expertise by sharing access carefully and pricing accordingly, you not only show your clients that you value yourself, but you teach them to value you. Creating healthy boundaries will give you the energy and focus you need to provide world-class service within the context of a well-rounded life and business.
Here are a few solutions I suggest when coaching my clients to overcome the 24/7 access myth:
Consider group access: Would your clients benefit from a monthly group Q&A session on Zoom, or a discussion in a Facebook group? Providing a platform for group access can give clients valuable insight from fellow participants and the chance to ask you questions in a controlled setting where your boundaries are respected.
Delegate to your team: If you currently answer every question from every client, consider reserving that level of access to a limited number of VIP clients who pay a premium price for it, and funneling the rest to team members. This gives all of your clients the chance to have their questions answered at a price point that is comfortable for them, and establishes that the highest level of access to you has the highest value.
Automate your systems: The more you can automate processes that are repetitive across customers, the less time you have to spend completing them for each client. Are there a series of client questions you find yourself answering over and over? Record a video of yourself walking clients through them. Do you waste time and energy playing phone tag with clients? Use a scheduler that keeps you in charge of your calendar. Want to provide clients a forum for questions and concerns without feeling compelled to stop and answer as each query comes in? Use an app like Voxer (audio) or Marco Polo (video) where clients can share their questions or ideas with you, and you can review and answer them at your convenience.
Are you ready to move past the myth of 24/7 access and create boundaries, systems, and policies that will honor your clients and you? I’d love for you to try one of these suggestions and drop me a line to tell me how it worked out for you.
I offer private coaching and mastermind opportunities for entrepreneurs ready to fasttrack your success. If you’d like to learn more about standing in your value as you build and scale your business, contact me HERE to schedule a call.
