Handling a Toxic Client
If you're self-employed, you must have experienced working for a difficult client - one who is never satisfied and who makes unreasonable demands. It's a draining experience and has the potential of shattering the confidence of a sensitive soul.
You can't stand working for them but you're afraid of letting go of them because:
- You believe turning them away can damage your reputation because bad news travels fast;
- You don't want to upset them; or
- You need the money.
So you convince yourself that it's not okay for you to walk away and that you MUST do everything you can to keep them happy because at the end of the day you need the client. You begin to dread working just because of this client so you can't wait to get the project done and over with so that you can start loving your work again.
I get it and I'm sure every entrepreneur in the world has felt the same way at some point in their lives.
Today, I felt inspired to give you some good news:
You don't have to keep living this way because it is perfectly okay for you to let go of a toxic client.
It may be easier said than done especially if times are hard and you've already finished spending the money you were supposed to get at the end in your mind. However you need to remember that you are the one in control of your business and if a client is not a right fit for you, you do NOT have to force yourself to continue working. You will find clients that are a better fit for you.
For you to grow in your business, you need to be efficient and emotionally stable. If a client is giving unnecessary problems, holding on to them is not going to change them especially if they refuse to listen to your advice and recommendations. As the expert in your field, it is your duty to help the client as much as possible but when the project is doomed to fail because of their behavior the best thing to do is to let go.
Letting go of a toxic client doesn't mean that you are unprofessional. It just shows that you value your time and that of your client. It's a more professional approach than leaving the client dissatisfied.
Thank you very much for reading! If you liked this post, please resteem and upvote. :)
With experience you will learn to handle difficult clients. One tip is , do not respond to their emotions but to their queries or complaints.
Exactly. You can learn a lot by responding to their queries and complaints especially when you're just starting out. Thanks for your contribution. :)