Women's Biz Magazine
How to Go from
Order-Taker to Leader in Your Service-Based Business By Alli Hill
Giving the client what they want is a sound approach to building your service-based business. But what happens when what your client says what they want isn’t what they need?
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t’s a fine line I’ve struggled to tread – giving the client what they want shows you’re listening to their requests, can follow directions, and want to meet their expectations. But the same holds true when you can demonstrate a better solution, one that might not have crossed their minds but will provide a better outcome than their current ask. That’s the hallmark of a true leader vs. an order taker. It requires you to identify what your clients really want beyond what they’re telling you. It means having their best interest in mind and speaking up on their behalf when what they are asking for doesn’t align with what they want. Let’s look at three practical things you can do to evolve from order-taker to client leader.
1. Remove the hidden layers by asking ‘why’. As a leader, I don’t just blindly write on topics the client comes up with. Instead, I take 48 | WOMENSBIZGLOBAL.COM
a leadership stance and help them connect the dots between my service and their outcomes. This helps to put my service into perspective and help them realize the value I bring to the process. The 5 Whys methodology (or Five Hows methodology) works well here. It’s a psychological tool used to find the root cause of an action or decision. For a freelance writer, the 5 Whys might look like this:
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Why do you want me to write about this topic?
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Why did you choose this keyword?
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Why do this topic and channel fit in with your goals?
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Why does more visibility relate to your goals?
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Why will this topic inspire readers to act?
