Running a business is not just all about offering products and services. It is also about taking care of your clients. And this is not always an easy endeavor, knowing that clients have different personalities—some are nice and some are not. You will have to deal with this dilemma carefully, especially if the client is a high-paying one. With this in mind, you will need to put your best forward when it comes to account management.
Account management is a tricky part of a business. You are treading between spoiling your client and being strict with your policies to protect the business’s interests. You will need to find a middle ground that will ensure your client is pleased and your team is not harassed.
This is why it is necessary that every account manager has the essential skills. If you are planning to undergo a key account management training seminar or send someone from your team, here are the skills that can be acquired.
Skill #1: Excellent Communication Skills
An account manager will face the client a lot of times. With this main task in mind, you will need to make sure that your communication skills are more than average. It is okay to start with small talk and have some friendly gestures, but you do not have to tell your life story to be close to the client. Gain their trust by simply tackling their problem head-on. The solutions you are proposing should be communicated without a problem, meaning you will need to mind your language. Practice your listening skills.
Skill #2: Patience
Patience is a skill or trait that you need to develop, especially that being an account manager may mean having a lot of wait times. On top of this, you will be compelled to deal with difficult clients, most of which are demanding and rude. On top of being a patient account manager, you will need to have excellent conflict-resolution skills.
Skill #3: Project Management Skills
Being an account manager means that you will be handling multiple projects at once. With all the demands coming from each project, you will need to make sure that each aspect will run efficiently. This is why you need to hone project management skills. If you have a team, it will pay that you know how to delegate tasks properly. That way, you will be able to save time while making the most of the strengths of your staff.
Skill #4: Grace Under Pressure
As mentioned, you will be forced to deal with a lot of problems concerning your client’s requests and demands. Some of them will show up unexpectedly, even when you are relaxing at work. You should be able to think of solutions easily. More importantly, you are expected not to crack under pressure.
These are just some of the things to keep in mind if you want to become a better project manager. You will need to possess the essential skills to please your clients while excelling at your chosen career.
