.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
-2.svg)
As much as you try to deliver flawless services and maintain great client relationships, you're bound to run into some difficult client situations – it's part of doing business!
Whether some aspect of your job management cycle doesn't go according to plan or your client is just having a bad day – it's important that you're prepared to manage angry, frustrated, or emotional clients.
In this blog, we outline seven strategies to help you manage and diffuse challenging situations. Keep them in your back pocket so you are equipped to turn around a potentially negative outcome.
Editor's note: This blog post was updated from its original version on 21 May 2020.
1. Keep your cool...always
This is the Number 1 rule to remember when dealing with a challenging client. Stay calm, and never let your own feelings spiral out of control. Responding to your client emotionally or angrily is only going to escalate the situation.
If you feel tense take a few deep breaths, keeping a slow and steady rhythm. It’s ok to wait a moment and collect yourself rather than responding immediately.
Remember not to take your client's behaviour as a personal offense. They might be under pressure from a tough boss, they could be having personal problems at home, or maybe they're just having a horrible day. Whatever the reason, try not to be offended - you never know their exact situation.
2. Acknowledge their feelings
When someone is firing aggressive or emotive language at you, it’s easy to roll your eyes and dismiss them as crazy. But disregarding a client’s feelings will only inflame them more.
It’s crucial that you acknowledge their emotions - whether or not they’re justified - so your client feels like they’ve been truly heard. The following statements can help…
- “I understand this situation is frustrating for you.”
- “I know this is a sensitive topic, and that you’re worried about your business.”
- “I understand this has caused you real stress and concern.”
Often just acknowledging their feelings will be enough to calm them down.
3. Wait for the calm
If it gets to the point where you client loses control and is yelling insults or failing to manage their emotions...you need to have patience. Wait it out. If you attempt to argue with them in this state no logic is going to break through.
Try to let your client get their feelings off their chest without interrupting. Avoid telling them to calm down - this can feel extremely patronising, and will often have the opposite effect.
If things have really escalated politely suggest taking a ten minute breather. Ask if they would a like a glass of water or coffee, or if they’d prefer to reconvene on another day. Try not to judge them for things said in the heat of the moment.
4. Practice active listening
While it’s important to placate an angry or emotional client, you should also take their comments on board. Do they have a valid reason to be so distressed? Why do they feel let down by your business? Were your initial promises or communications misleading?
In the case of Brad the muffin man, we eventually realised one of our over-zealous sales people had promised him a heap of extras beyond the scope of the project. He felt betrayed by these broken promises.
Active listening means really stopping and digesting the words your client says. If you’re simply imagining your rebuttal while they talk, that’s not active listening.
Here are some tips:
- Put aside distracting thoughts
- Don’t mentally formulate your rebuttal while they’re speaking
- Never interrupt
- Make eye contact
- Ask questions for clarification
- Repeat their points to show understanding
- Keep an open posture (no closed arms)
By really listening to your client’s problems you may discover ways to improve your service, business processes and communication going forward.
5. Find common ground
Try to find some common ground early in the conversation. If you only focus on the point of disagreement, your client will feel like they’re banging their head against a brick wall.
Here are some statements that may be helpful:
- “I think we can agree that the results from this campaign did not go as expected.”
- “I know we are both eager to find a mutually beneficial solution to this.”
- “We both want to get the best results from this project. Let’s make a plan that works for everyone.”
- “I know we’re both keen to get these delays resolved as fast as possible.”
Establishing that you have things in common can help generate feelings of empathy and understanding. You don’t want to be at loggerheads for the whole conversation.
6. Establish control with facts
When tensions are running high it’s easy to get off topic, or end up discussing tangential details. Anecdotes or argumentative statements can quickly veer the meeting off course.
To keep things on track make sure you bring a written agenda to the meeting. You should also have all relevant paperwork at hand - your signed contract, previous written communication, and a timeline of events up to the present. Having these facts at hand will help you establish control of the conversation.
Use the paperwork to back up your position, especially the formal contract. If they ignore these written points calmly repeat them until they sink in. Make it clear that you will not budge on factual information.
7. End with a concrete plan
Always conclude the meeting with a concrete plan for moving forward, and email a summary of this to the client. This means the meeting outcome can’t be disputed. Include timeframes and specifics.
If you didn’t manage to reach a mutually agreeable solution, make sure you set a date for a follow-up meeting. Or if you prefer, tell your client you will send them a proposal within a strictly specified deadline (e.g. 48 hours). It’s crucial to schedule every step forward, so you keep momentum and nothing gets forgotten.
Remember that it’s in your own interest to deal with unhappy clients as fast as possible. The longer the disagreement drags on, the more likely the client will complain publicly or leave negative reviews of your business.
Stop potential problems before they start
Following these steps will help to resolve most conflicts. But the best approach is to avoid difficult clients in the first place!
Have you ever experienced a bad gut feeling when meeting a new client? Your stomach forms a little knot when their name pops up in your inbox. We all find it hard to say no to potential new business, but often it’s better to act on your intuition. The most difficult clients aren’t worth it because of the profits they’ll cost you in the long run.
Here are some red flags to watch out for when meeting new clients:
- Asking for a discount. A client trying to wrangle down your standard rates is usually a bad sign. It means they don’t respect the true value of your work and may try to squeeze freebies out of you later on.
- Being vague about requirements. Sometimes a client can’t give you any solid details or requirements but still expects a quote. This suggests they’re not serious about the project, don’t know their own goals, or simply expect you to work miracles.
- Reluctance to pay a deposit. If you’ve explained your payment process but they’re reluctant or fidgety about paying a deposit, this is a red flag for obvious reasons. You’re likely to end up chasing invoices down the line.
- Your gut intuition. Sometimes it’s nothing specific they’ve said - just a knot in your stomach saying you shouldn't work with them. In my experience this feeling is almost always correct. If your gut is screaming at you to run… run.
Meeting with a client is like going on a date. Both parties should feel positive about progressing the relationship. If you have concerns from the outset, tell them you don’t have the capacity to take them on, or you don’t think your services are suited to their needs.
You’ll avoid a great deal of emotional stress, sleepless nights and heated phone calls in the future.
Deliver jobs on time, on budget, and beyond your clients' expectations. WorkflowMax all-in-one job management software will help your professional service business manage projects from lead to quote to invoice and everything in between.
Subscribe to our newsletter to get tips and best practices for improving business operations, streamlining project management, and much, much more!
