6 Clienteling Tips to Transform Your 2026

Often there is one underpinning skill missing from the priority list – one that will accelerate every goal you have set for 2026: Clienteling.

Happy 2026!

As it so often is at the start of a new year, you probably already have your top five business priorities, three personal development ambitions, and two plans to embed AI in your day-to-day operations mapped out.

Yet often there is one underpinning skill missing from the priority list – one that will accelerate every goal you have set for 2026:

Clienteling.

Clienteling is the ability to interact with others in a way that makes a positive impression, helps people feel seen, and ensures your message truly lands.

Clienteling is the human skill behind influence, trust, and progress.

1. Use more of “You” instead of “I.”

Open a recent email you sent and count how many times you used “I” vs. “you”.

It is in our human nature to speak from our perspective, which is why we naturally use a lot of “I”.

Yet shifting from “I” to “you” symbolically means shifting the focus from ourselves to the person we are engaging with, making the communication feel more engaging, personal, and persuasive.

Here is an example:

Change
“I just wanted to follow up on my proposal.”

To:
“You may have had a chance to review the proposal – happy to clarify anything that would be helpful for you.”

2. Be conscious of your airtime versus the other person’s

This is not a universal rule, but being mindful of how much you speak versus how much the other person does sends a powerful message:

You care about them.

Let the other person share, then absorb with your mind, then respond with your facial expressions, and only then with words.

3. Be the most interested person in a room

We are often told to be the most interesting person in a room.

In my experience, being the most interested person makes it far easier to make friends than trying to show how interesting you are.

This starts with putting away distractions – your phone, your urge to “add value”, your next meeting, and so on.

Focus fully on the person in front of you. Notice how your presence alone elevates the moment.

4. Learn to compliment genuinely

A genuine compliment is one of the most powerful human interactions.

Personalised appreciation opens the door to rapport and trust.

Reflect on:

What detail can you genuinely celebrate today with one client or colleague?
How does your authentic appreciation change the vibe of the interaction?
How comfortable are you with receiving compliments yourself?

5. Up your relatability

People connect with people who feel familiar and relatable.

You can increase relatability by:

mirroring dress code and communication style,
referencing shared lifestyle interests,
acknowledging common values.

Before your next important meeting, reflect on:

How can you increase relatability in this interaction?

Observe how the similarities help others feel more at ease with you.

6. Small Gestures that are never small

Clienteling lives in the details:

A personalised birthday note.

A thorough follow-up after a networking event.

A genuine recommendation on LinkedIn.

Ask yourself:

What small action could you show care to someone important today?

Clienteling is ultimately about self-awareness and intentional relationship building.

May your 2026 be a year where you turn more everyday interactions into meaningful connections – ones open doorways to what you aspire to achieve ☺!

Whenever you are ready, here are the ways we can support you (or your business) to thrive in your industry:

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