Those who can, teach

October 27, 2009 | 7 Comments

I can see

This is often how I feel.

When I work with clients, I try hard to teach them about marketing, about customer engagement and how to listen and participate in the social web.

Some consultants prefer to do instead of teach. They are worried that if the client learns how to run everything on their own, they wouldn’t need the consultant anymore.

I would welcome that.

If I can teach my way out of a job, that means the clients are engaging with their customers and running a more successful, more social, more human business.

How can that be a bad thing?

DailySense.com runs on the Genesis Framework

Genesis Framework

Genesis empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. Whether you're a novice or advanced developer, Genesis provides the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation that takes WordPress to places you never thought it could go. It's that simple - start using Genesis now!

Take advantage of the 6 default layout options, comprehensive SEO settings, rock-solid security, flexible theme options, cool custom widgets, custom design hooks, and a huge selection of child themes ("skins") that make your site look the way you want it to. With automatic theme updates and world-class support included, Genesis is the smart choice for your WordPress website or blog.

  • http://www.flurrycreations.com/theblog John Bergquist

    I agree, Clay. I find more and more that they are the clients that really don't understand what this is all about yet. Basically it is like asking someone to take your wife out for dates. I know that might sound funny but it is true. Clients that get it understand that the relationships in their community (online/offline) are possibly the most meaningful relationships they have. Why would they want to entrust that to a stranger, someone outside their tribe.

  • http://www.dondavidson.tumblr.com Don Davidson

    I'm with you on this one, Clay. Working in the investment advisory business I often wonder the same. Why shouldn't our goal be to give clients enough knowledge and confidence to eventually oversee their own finances? Unfortunately most of my peers want to keep their clients confused and thinking there is no way they could manage their money on their own in order to justify the fees advisors charge.

    Bad move in my opinion.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/clayhebert clayhebert

    Thanks, John. I agree. It's all about being a more human business,and that's not something you can outsource. Luckily for me, I have great clients that totally get it and it's a very symbiotic, educational relationship.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/clayhebert clayhebert

    Totally agree, Don. I used to be an assistant to a financial planner, so I know exactly what you mean. My boss was one of the good guys. It's all about becoming a trusted advisor. If you can gain your clients trust, honestly and authentically, then you can stop selling and be their advisor. The best business relationships I've seen are all like that.

    You nailed it.

  • http://twitter.com/jdkingston @jdkingston

    The status quo says that a business should continually produce more (more customers, more profit, more more more) to stay in the game. But is that really the best long team strategy? How many times have you heard when suggesting that a strategy should be to educate the client on how and why something should be done, only to hear something to the effect that you will be giving away the farm. Information is cheap, understanding the information is expensive, and educating a client on how to use their information will only become more valuable.

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/peanutbutterunderground Olivier Blanchard

    It only sent a figurative chill down my spine, but that's close enough. It's almost too good a poster for that show. We're appropriating it.

  • http://www.HomelandSecureIT.com/ John M. Hoyt

    Wow, late response there Olivier, but as they say, better late than never!