Vitamin has done it again with yet another article that hits the mark. Paul Boag writes,
"The reason we find ourselves in conflict with our clients is because we make little or no effort to either understand their “culture” or “speak their language”. If we wish to convince them of the value of accessibility, standards or any other best practice technique, we need to learn to present it in a language they can relate to."
I know for a fact that I have been guilty of this on more than one occasion and of the solution has always been to stand in my client's shoes briefly to gain perspective on their point of view.
The article is written more for the benefit of designers than for their business owner clients, but the value of the content runs both ways. If you're a web designer, Boag's article sheds light on the differences between the way you look at a project and the way your client views it. If you're a business owner attempting to communicate with and understand your web designer I think you'll find that the article will help you understand a little better how he or she thinks.