Characteristics of Successful Leading Practitioners

Based on the training and consulting I have done withof your best clients and referral sources so you have
practitioners across North America and the Unitedmatched your core strengths and values with those of
Kingdom, I have identified the following threean alert market.
characteristics of successful Leading Practitioners.• Spend time with quality referral sources who are
• Sturdy visibility and reliability amid high influenceconsistently in front of your target market:
referral sources1. Set up 2-3 purposeful lunches a week - learn about
• Web sites that are client centered, easily navigatereferral sources' key goals and tell them your core
able, and highly noticeable on the internetmessage.
• Have a status for creating a better client2. Stay in touch with referral sources by sending
experience.articles of interest.
How do you boost your visibility and credibility amongst3. Invite referral resources to events and trainings.
referral sources so everyone who spends time in front4. Send letters of introduction about your services;
of your target market can confidently and efficientlyinclude your brochure or a brochure on collaborative
speak about you and your proficiency?practice.
You do this by making sure referral sources know5. Contact your clients' providers ( i.e., if you are a
who you are and what your expertise is. This requireslawyer, contact clients' mental health professional and
that you have a distinctive value proposition and havelet him/her know about Collaborative Practice)
recognized who the high influence referral sources are.6. Congratulate referral sources who are in the news.
Once you have your memo and know your top7. Set up interviews to study about referral sources'
referral sources, your next step is to communicatepractice so you can develop your own professional
your message to referral sources that could benefitnetwork and refer your clients to the best
from knowing about your proficiency and service.professionals in your community.
Your objective is to have referral sources know8. Help your referral sources to be successful - bring
enough about you and your expertise so they canas much value as you can to your referral sources.
easily and confidently say to potential clients, "Let meBy spending the time identifying who your best referral
give you the name of a specialist who can help you ....sources are and then consistently doing the activities
The following are three action steps you can take toto strengthen those dealings, you will see a boost in
increase your visibility and credibility among highclass referrals and you will pull towards you
influence referral sources:advantageous clients who are a good fit for your
• Conclude your message: Provide transparencyservices and expertise. The end result is more control
about what you do, who you do it for, the value youover building a practice that you take pleasure in and
offer, and how you distinguish your services.brings important value to your clients.
• Explain your target market: Know the individuality