Most doctors firmly believe that certain types of regular screening tests and checkups are essential and help save lives. And most of us, no matter how much we despise devoting an hour or more to getting poked and prodded, dutifully go for an annual checkup each year. Annual checkups can play a vital role in your professional health as well—especially with regard to client and customer relationships, the lifeblood of every business.

In fact, you should absolutely review the “health” of your client relationships on a regular basis. Here’s why: Most clients vote with their feet. They don’t tell you they are unhappy; they simply start to give their business to your competitors. Client relationship checkups can help you gauge the health of these relationships, prescribe changes when necessary, and identify ways to develop them.

I recommend infusing your client health checkups with the right questions. In my book, Power Questions (Wiley, 2012), I explore dozens of questions that light fires under people, challenge their assumptions, help them see problems in productive new ways, and strengthen the bonds in the relationship.

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