Even My Kids Know: Business Development is About Trust (Minis with Megan)

Getting clients can be hard, but it’s a lot easier when people trust you. In this mini episode of S*o Much To Say: A Legal Podcast For People*, Megan Senese pulls from inspiration that has come from a seemingly unlikely (but very cute) source: her kids. Their observation sparks a conversation about why trust, reliability, and small acts of thoughtfulness matter more than the perfect pitch or another accolade. From following up when you say you will to helping someone even when there’s nothing in it for you, Megan explores how small moments add up to strong relationships, and why that is really good business development. **Who this episode is for:** - Lawyers who want to build stronger, longer-lasting client relationships - Professionals who struggle with business development feeling transactional - Anyone focused on attracting new clients while overlooking the relationships they already have - Firm leaders looking to create a more relationship-focused approach to business development for themselves and their firm **Episode takeaways:** - Trust can matter more than credentials, awards, or a perfectly polished pitch. - Reliability is one of the simplest ways to build trust with clients and prospects. - Small acts of thoughtfulness are business development, even when they don’t feel like it. - Helping when you have nothing to gain demonstrates that a relationship isn’t merely transactional. - Strong relationships make outreach, referrals, pitching, and staying connected easier. **How to make trust part of your business development strategy:** - **Do what you say you’ll do:** Follow through when you promise to call, email, introduce someone, or provide an answer (especially when you offer a timeline). - **Show up:** Consistency helps people know they can count on you when they need something. - **Pay attention to the small things:** Remember the book they mentioned, make the introduction, or send the recommendation that made you think of them. - **Help when there’s nothing in it for you:** Refer work when you’re not the right fit, answer the question, or check in simply because you care. - **Take time to reflect:** Think about your strongest client relationships and identify the small moments that built trust before there was ever work to discuss. **Stay Connected:** At stage, we believe business development is relationship development. We help lawyers move beyond transactional outreach and build the kinds of authentic, trusted relationships that make business development more natural and sustainable. If you or your firm are interested, you can reach us at [info@stage.guide](mailto:info@stage.guide). - Learn more about stage - Connect with Megan Senese - Connect with Jennifer Ramsey Love So Much To Say? Let us know! Drop a review, give us 5 stars in your favorite podcast app, and tell us what made you laugh, think, or just go “yep, that’s me.” Every review helps us reach more awesome humans who want to make legal…well, human.