Dealing With Difficult Clients

THE HEADACHE OF DIFFICULT CLIENTS

Whether you are a lawyer, hair stylist, insurance broker, physician, dentist, independent consultant, or established entrepreneur owning a company with multiple employees, there is always that difficult client who either makes the blood pressure boil or influences the need for a breath of fresh air or a drink.  I am not talking about the client who rightfully expects a product or service they paid for or was unfairly treated or was charged an exorbitant fee. I am referring to clients who never are happy no matter what you do.  

So how do you deal with these individuals?
1). Do not feed into their misery. Stay positive and offer recommendations with valid reasoning to counter their complaints.
2). Be patient and allow them to vent. Sometimes, not all the time, they will lower their voice and stop talking. At that point, you can interject with the voice of reason of which they may listen.
3). Don't even try to out-talk or talk over them.  Chances are, they have mastered intimidating others by not allowing people to speak.  If you can't get the opportunity to speak, let them finish. They need an audience and a response for their ego.
4). Placate them by apologizing that you can't accommodate them. Use this after you have exhausted all the other methods. They will either give in and calm down or ask to leave the business relationship. This is your chance to close open-ended invoices and politely engage in conversation to vacate contractual obligations.

When its all said and done, still give quality products and service and never miss deadlines. Do not give difficult clients any ammunition because in most cases, they will be your BEST references.

For more tips like these and overall business strategy, be sure to pick up a copy of the book at Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/10Somc1).  Also follow on Twitter @temekoruns and check out informative videos on the YouTube channel - http://bit.ly/Vtzm2s

Posted in: Exec Get a Clue,Get A Clue,Impressing People,productivity,program management,project management,small business expert,Temeko Richardson,The RLC Group