As a female entrepreneur, you will come across clients who treat you poorly. Whether it’s through rude comments or disrespectful behavior, such experiences can be disheartening and demoralizing. But don’t let them get the better of you—with the right strategies, you can learn to handle these situations with grace and dignity. Here are some tips on how to do so.
Establish Boundaries
The first step is to establish clear boundaries with your clients so they know what is acceptable and what isn’t. This could include setting expectations around communication styles (e.g., no texting after 9pm), timelines (e.g., returning emails within 24 hours), or payment terms (e.g., requiring a deposit before any work begins). Being up front about these issues from the start will help ensure that both parties are on the same page and reduce the chances of any future problems arising between you.
Stay Calm and Professional
It can be tempting to lose your cool when dealing with a difficult client, but doing so won’t get you very far in the long run. Instead, try to remain calm and professional at all times—even if it feels like your client is pushing all your buttons. Taking deep breaths or counting down from 10 are great ways to stay composed and confident in challenging situations. It also helps to keep in mind that this too shall pass; whatever issue arises today will eventually fade away tomorrow if you handle it with grace and poise now.
Related article: How Self Confidence is Your Superpower
Know When It's Time To Walk Away
Finally, don't be afraid to walk away if a client's behavior becomes too much for you to handle—it’s not worth compromising your mental health over someone who doesn't respect your boundaries or value your services. Plus, there are plenty of other clients out there who will appreciate everything that you have to offer! Don't feel guilty about cutting ties with someone who isn't treating you right—you deserve better than that!
Bottom line: no one deserves to be treated disrespectfully or taken advantage of in their line of work—especially not female entrepreneurs! If a client is making it hard for you by disregarding boundaries or exhibiting poor behavior, take action now by setting clear expectations and staying calm in difficult situations. And remember: it's always ok to walk away if things become too much for you! With these tips in mind, handling difficult clients should become easier over time!