Approaches to surveys for others

Apologies for a rather long post. Not sure I could condense too much.
This has been touched on in other posts but perhaps never been given a spot of its own.

Over many years of collecting data I've learnt the initial contact and request for a survey is where the opportunity lies to engage your client and help them to achieve an outcome that they desire and fully own.
Often a person comes to me with something rolling around inside them and yet ask for something that would not fulfil their needs.
I'm sure many have seen a process through following the instructions to the nth degree only to discover your client hasn't really conveyed what they'll be doing with your survey or have little understanding of what they actually require.
Long ago I adopted a questioning approach to tease out what they are wanting to achieve, why they think they need my services and how best to fulfil their aspirations.
Speaking here of new clients. Existing ones know my ways which lighten the load immediately.
But it doesn't end there, and even the most well thought out ideas occasionally (often) can end up with requests to extend or add to my survey.
My early days as a Government surveyor involved much travelling to remote areas and it was not in anyone's interest to spend longer away from home than was necessary.
Being a public servant we were supposed to work public service hours. However there was an accepted (unofficial) practice of working longer hours, making the most of the available daylight and taking time off in lieu.
This also reflected in our practise where we'd seldom do the basic required, rather pre-empting any request to extend sections on problem areas of road design we'd use our time wisely and even if it wasn't always used the time taken in additional work was minuscule compared to a return trip that could involve å? the day in travel (return).
This set me up for my adopted approach to current practise.
However it brought with it other benefits that on occasions justified our efforts.
I'm happy (now) to spend an extra hour taking additional shots knowing that I can more than satisfy the requirements as initially detailed, but also confident when asked for additional information I can provide it without another trip. (doesn't always work that way, but certainly proved itself over time).
To provide 1 metre contours is easy, å? metre ones probably little different, even 0.1 metre contours can involve little extra work in many instances. The key probably lies in the care and approach taken where I'm confident my work can sustain scrutiny.
A lot of detail surveys is by way of me on the TS with my chainman out on the pole. He knows me, has an eye for detail and surveys any feature he sees or asks first. We're a good team.
Nothing impresses a client more than to discover you've been able not only facilitate his aspirations but you've helped in alleviating additional work due to his lack of understanding and procedures.
Then there's those areas where constant years of interaction with other disciplines have enabled you to advise a client to seek out help from others to better their outcome and to alleviate costs.
Tax can affect business dealings that often surveying is required in. Water, building and roads are other areas where enough knowledge under the belt can influence your client and guide them through the maze of agencies that in themselves can bring much pain or time delays.
It's not that I have the expert knowledge rather I have enough knowledge to steer them towards those with that experience and expertise and move them further towards their successful outcome.
Sure this costs something. It often costs me time that I don't always recoup, often I do, but it is more about the satisfaction of knowing I've helped this person achieve something in life that on their own they could not.
I try to give as much detail of the perceived processes and associated costs to see their job through to the end. Occasionally they back out as the costs hit home but that's good as I've heard of devastated people that have committed to the task without being fully informed and run up huge bills which had they known beforehand would not have persevered in.

I've made a lot of customers happy and made valued friends who in turn have bought others to my door to help, and the cycle repeats.

I'd encourage any younger or upcoming individuals setting of on their journey in surveying to consider your client(s), imagining yourself in their shoes and with your whole life ahead consider how you want to proceed and setout on a defined approach that leads to a healthy respect from those you rub shoulders with in the community.
The rewards can be extremely fulfilling.