Is it professional to say "I prayed for you... thought about you..." to a potential and/or existing client?

I think it depends on the context and the relationship with the client. I wait to be sure they'll perceive it in a positive light.

The majority of my clients do appreciate knowing if I pray for them, and it's a way to add another connection between you. In many businesses, the personal connection is just as important as the business purpose - you have opportunities to talk about kids, vacations, hobbies, etc.

In my line of work (taxes), it helps because part of the process is asking about donations to charities such as churches. That gives me a pretty good indication of what people believe and how they'll respond.

I think it helps build rapport - though you might get some pushback with the "pray" comment from people who are not especially religious by nature, but "thought about you" seems as though it would be universally appreciated :-)

Depends, I've told clients I'm keeping them in my prayers and they truly appreciated it, but then again they were good clients of mine that I had great relationships with. Guess it depends on who, when, where and in what context.

I say "I've been thinking about you." often, in fact I said it today to a patient that I called and have not seen in many months. It was true and authentic for me. (It was a fluke that I called since thinking about someone and calling do not always go together:-)

Usually, after I think about them, they show up in my office. Weird.

And yeah, the "pray" comment doesn't fit.

I'd say it's ok to say you've been thinking about someone or hoped they are doing well. I'd leave pray out of it, since you could inadvertently offend them.

Taylor Ellwood http://www.imagineyourreality.com

Unless your profession is religious in nature telling someone you prayed or are praying for them is inappropriate and can be a huge turn off to some.

As someone who isn't particularly religious and has had a business associate tell me that they have prayed for me. I would have to say the first thought that came to my mind, was that person didn't really know me that well.

Unless you know for sure that it would be appreciated, telling someone you're praying for them is almost as passive-aggressive as telling a person you "forgive" them for some perceived slight.

I see nothing wrong with letting someone know you were thinking about them. As far as "pray"... I'm never offended if someone says their praying for me. Why would you be? Even if you're not religious, or don't subscribe to that religion, they're simply letting you know that they care or are concerned about you. What's wrong with that? Being offended says more about you than about them.

Religion in business can be strange. I have a client who likes to pray before meetings, including lunch meetings... in public. I find it strange in the context of business, but I'm not put off by it.

I once had a prospective client tell me (five minutes after meeting me) that he started his business because God had appeared to him in the shower one morning and told him to do it. He was a political consultant. I figured that one wasn't worth pursuing. :)