Come January 2, the rush will be on. Clients will come bursting through the door, ready to be done with their marriages. It’s fascinating to watch the January rush year after year.
What will they feel like when they pass through your door and enter your lobby?
How will the lobby affect their mood?
Is your lobby a plus or a minus?
Why Your Lobby Matters
The lobby sets the tone for your initial meeting. These new clients walk from that room to the room where you’re going to meet. The lobby has a big impact on the mood of the meeting.
Take a few minutes and go sit in the lobby. Do it now before you read on. Go soak up the atmosphere.
I’ll wait.
Welcome back.
Now, consider the following questions:
- What was it like out there?
- Was it quiet or noisy?
- Could you overhear conversations in other rooms?
- Was there music?
- Was it dark or bright?
- How was the temperature?
- Was it clean or messy?
- Was it cozy? Was it spacious?
- Was it dark or bright?
- Was the furniture comfortable?
- Was there something to read? Something to watch?
- Did the feeling inspire confidence or make you nervous?
- Were you comfortable?
- Were you intimidated?
- How did it smell?
- Was the art pleasant?
- Did you feel close enough to others waiting in the room? Did you feel too close?
- Did you feel protected or exposed?
- Did the feeling change when the door opened?
- Do the people greeting you add or detract from the experience?
- Did your fingers touch the material on your seat? Did it feel right?
- Did you like the feeling of the room, or did you want to leave?
- Did you feel safe?
- Did you feel taken care of?
- Did you feel secure or threatened?
- Did the room feel full of life or full of death?
- Did the room feel like you were stepping forward or moving backward?
Small things make a big difference in the lobby. Plants change the mood. Dimming the lights has an impact. A music player and the right tunes can completely change the dynamic. Flowers can shift the visitors’ perspective.
They’re coming in a few weeks. Are you ready for them?
