Paul Cowan Releases “Connecting with Clients”

One key difference between Paul Cowan and others in his chosen field that leapt out at me is his unwillingness to view relationships, of all kinds, in strictly transactional terms. Connecting with Clients does many things, arguably producing a definitive examination of how you can affect positive organizational and interpersonal relationships, but this is the Rosetta Stone of sorts for deciphering Cowan’s intentions. His book views those connections as greater than money and profit alone. There’s no question that a business or organization requires sufficient financial foundations to continue its work and that ownership and employees alike should aim for profitability, but Cowan views a substantive personal relationship to other humans as all-important towards realizing those goals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: https://paulcowan.com/

It is a bit sprawling. One cannot come away from this book without feeling like Cowan has thrown everything, even the proverbial kitchen sink, into a blender and let it spew on the page. There is little question he’s served up a comprehensive work with this book, but many readers will come away from Connecting with Clients wondering if it could have been twenty five percent shorter and still be every bit as valuable. Despite its sprawl, Cowan covers a tremendous amount of relevant information for readers and speaks to them in language they will understand. There’s no stentorian lecturing, no academic musings – Connecting with Clients earns your respect in the trenches of personal relationships rather than impressing readers with terminology or how much money they can make if they follow Cowan’s path.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Connecting-Clients-rewarding-longer-lasting-relationships/dp/0857198599

Cowan isn’t a natural writer; the book often has the tone of an extended speaking engagement but being a natural writer doesn’t affect him like it might others. Connecting with Clients often strikes you as having a beer with a very intelligent and personable professional who burns with passion for his chosen vocation. His affability is important. Cowan makes every reasonable effort to relate to his readers, he’s been where you are, while still maintaining the necessary authorial distance for sharing what he’s learned as both a consultant and psychotherapist.

There are recurring elements throughout the book. The top tips ending each of the book’s seventy plus sections are an important feature that will aid many readers and there is a smattering of visual material included to help flesh out the points he tries to make. There is even a little humor to leaven the otherwise serious atmosphere. Make no mistake, however, despite its length, Connecting with Clients is focused from the outset and Cowan makes certain that focus never wavers. Whatever faults, big or small, the book may have never diminished its usefulness for readers interested in this subject.

It will likely remain an indispensable text for years to come. Paul Cowan is giving back to a profession that has been very kind and rewarding to him with a book delving into the ethos that brought him such kindness and rewards. It is professional and personal, probing and playful. It shows a man who has accomplished much through these methods and philosophies and only wants you to enjoy the same success he has. It’s a winner. 

Nicole Killian