HowsYourBlog

How To Deal With Annoying Clients

Posted on 21. Sep, 2009 by David Y in Freelance

We all get them from time to time.. the ones that think your their friend and that you and them go way back. The ones that email you ever hour to check on your “progress” or to see “how you’re doing”. The types of people who change there minds after the first proof is delivered, the ones who feel that they don’t need to pay full price because the last project you did was one price and this is just an extension and of course because they think your friends.

So here are a few ways in which we can make the time we have to deal with such people a bit more tolerable of an experience:

Smile and then smile some more. Smile like you’ve never smiled before but most importantly make sure you sell it as a genuine smile. Allow that person to trust you because honestly it could be a thing of nervousness on their part.

Charge them more. This isn’t about making more money, but ensuring that your covering your bases. More times than one these types of clients will take up more time than you originally planned to give but while your wording your contract to make sure they fully understand how important your time is as well as how dedicated you are to getting their project done.

Automate a quick update. Setup some canned responses via your email application to make them feel good. This not only solves the problem of having to stop and give them an update but it also covers the base of them not having to worry about their project.

Listen to music. More times than I can begin to even count, music has been a very calming ingredient in helping me deal with the occasional annoying client. Unless you’ve had a good cup of coffee or a really good energy drink I suggest you stay away from classical music or anything too slow.. try to stick with upbeat and blood pumping music.

Be unavailable. If you don’t already have this skill learn it.. with quickness. Being unavailable creates a peaceful place where you can get work done. Choose a time when you feel best to response. Start off with a quick message saying, “Sorry I missed you” then just add in the best time they can reach you. Be sure to be specific with a time and date.

Become annoying back. Repeat everything they say to you. Approach it from the angle of clarifying every detail to make sure your understanding them. Ask them every possible question related to their project that you can think of. Reply to there messages in the same way they write to you, leave a voice mail for them the same way they do for you, after awhile they’ll soon realize there actions towards you are annoying and voila you’ve made then bearable.

Stay calm. No matter what they say or do, never ever lose your cool. A part of remaining in control of any situation is to keep your cool. By doing this you’ll send a message out to your client that you’re a calm collected person and hopefully they’ll back off, 8 times out of 10 this works.

If you follow any or all the steps above you’ll realize that not only your endurance level will go up in dealing with an annoying over-anxious client, but that your overall ability to deal with people will improve. As a freelancer or even as an employee dealing with people is an important skill to have.

What are some ways in which you deal with annoying people? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.

(post image from Rennett Stowe)

Tags: freelancing, personality