Let’s imagine Sally runs and business but while she is good at what she does, she doesn’t really understand why clean impressions matter.
How does the atmosphere impact potential clients?
Yesterday Sally had a meeting with a prospective new client- Dave. When Dave met Sally he was impressed with her knowledge and professionalism. She dressed well, was easy to talk to, and she knew her stuff. However, when he walked into her office, something started nagging at him.
It began right at the front door. It was unforgivable, but the door looked like it hadn’t been wiped down for months. If he didn’t already have an appointment booked he would not have even bothered going in, but since he’d had the benefit of meeting Sally first, he could look past that external welcome.
Unfortunately it only got worse when he went inside. It’s not that there was anything massively out of place. In fact each thing on its own would barely even be noticed. But added together, they shifted Dave’s thoughts about Sally’s business.
Mess doesn’t have to be overtly notable to have a negative impact
The reception area was noticably dusty. He could smell it more than he could even see this. Little things like window sills, stuff he would not normally notice, suddenly stood out to him because of the layers of grime that they held.
The waste basket was very full. While it wasn’t actually overflowing the sight of it left Dave imagining bits of crumpled up paper and old apple cores strewn about the floor.
The windows were letting in the light, but instead of reflecting a nice clear sheen, they highlighted fingerprints, dust, and other marks that just made the place feel dirty. When he leant his hand on the edge of the reception desk it even felt a tad sticky. He quickly lifted his hand up and carefully avoided touching anything else.
The receptionist was very friendly and kept on a nice welcoming smile. But Dave was distracted in ways he couldn’t quite pinpoint. When he sat on the couch his eye was immediately drawn to a dusting of crumbs that were exposed between the cushions. He imagined what it would look like if he dared get up and remove the cushion entirely.
While Sally didn’t make him wait too long, it felt much longer than it really was to Dave. He was too nervous to pick up the ragged magazine sitting on the coffee table to entertain clients while they waited. There were no obvious cup marks or spills, but there was a soap streak on one side, marking a hasty attempt to wipe something up.
Clean impressions matter because they make your job easier by creating a more positive and professional environment
By the time Sally took Dave into the conference room his inclination to work with Sally had significantly diminished. Unbeknown to Sally, she now had a much harder job cut out for her to convince Dave to come on board.
The state of the conference room didn’t make things any easier. It gave the same unkempt impression as the reception area had. Everything from the carpets to the whiteboard just didn’t seem quite right.
While the atmosphere wouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker, it would make it that much harder for Sally to convince Dave that she was the right person for the job, that her business was the right choice.
Little did she know that this very aspect had been playing a big part in why she felt so drained when she did manage to convince a new client to come on board, and explained why more than a few hadn’t been brought across the line.
It was only when Sally did some research that she found out that office cleanliness was so important.
Clean impressions matter. They:
1- Give a stronger impression that you are professional
2- Show your clients and potential clients that you pay attention to the details
3- Stop people from associating your business with negative thoughts such as dirt, grime, and uncleanliness.
4- Help ensure potential clients focus on the actual business on hand and not on little bits and pieces that need attention in your office.
5- Ensure that when something is out of place it is noted as an exception rather than the expectation for your office.
6- Physically make it easier for clients to be at your office. Dust and grime can make it harder to breathe or can make your visitors feel icky or sticky.
When it comes to creating a good impression at your office, don’t be like Sally. Remember that clean impressions matter.
Contact CleaningBest Perth today, to organise your regular office clean and stay more than a shine above the mess.
