Navigating Client Relationships: Effective Strategies for Setting Expectations and Boundaries
I’m not one for buzzy words-I hate phrases like “hustle”. Don’t get me started on “Girl Boss”.
However, one buzzy word that is still relevant: boundaries.
The Power of Boundaries: Why They Matter in Business
We all need them, and as women we tend to suck at them. As a bunch we are a catering-to, enabling, overly nice and people-pleasing boundaries catastrophe most of the time. We’re so nice though. Right?
When you run a business your reputation is important, but it’s not everything. Honoring your time and being true to your values is paramount in my book. Your business is only as successful as the time you have deliberately working IN it, not ON it. More on that in another post one day.
Setting the Tone: Consistency from the Start
The best way I know to reclaim some time AND have better behaved clients? Boundary setting.
Here are my top tips on how to instantly improve things:
The Contract Advantage: Protecting Yourself and Your Clients
Start your engagement strong but keep it consistent. Setting the tone is key and if you bungle it, it comes back to bite you threefold. Do they get a note in the mail welcoming them? A gift? Do you over communicate or just do the minimum? Whatever you do, be sure that it doesn’t just start with a bang, but rather burns steady throughout the engagement.
Have a contract. Lives have been saved with contracts. I am clearly kidding but cannot overstate the importance. It set’s expectations and also is a key part of professionalism–it shows that you care about doing things in a professional manner. No contract? No excuses-Google one and customize away. No, you won’t be able to predict everything and some things won’t be covered. But as you grow you’ll add clauses based off of good ‘ole life experience and over time, you’ll build an ironclad contract that protects not only you, but your clients as well.
Timing is Everything: Managing Communication Etiquette
Stop emailing at all hours of the night. Is your opening salvo an email sent at 11 PM? Not the best choice. Even if you are working, you don’t want them to know you are because that puts you in the category of “online and therefore available”. Sign off from client communication at 6 (that should be in that contract) and stick to it. Write all the emails but schedule them for the next day during office hours. If you just pick one rule to follow, let it be this.
Honesty and Assertiveness: Dealing with Challenging Client Situations
Tell the truth, especially when it’s hard. I know, I know, easier said than done. But standing your ground is important. Don’t want to be bullied by others bad behavior? The easiest way to do that is to stand up for yourself. It gets easier. As a former wise woman I knew liked to say: No one ever died from being uncomfortable. And to their credit, sometimes people just DON’T know they are being jerks. They had a bad day, they’re taking it out on you–and they may not get how terrible they’re being. Either way you can respond in a respectful but firm way instead of just giving in to unreasonable demands or accepting fault that you shouldn’t be on the hook for. Tell the truth and be bold–in email, in business, and in life.
What do you struggle with the most when it comes to client boundaries? Let us know so we can help! We’re better together. 💕
