You Win Some & You Lose Some – Dealing with a Difficult Client

So often people write articles about how to win over clients, how to achieve success, and how to build a business, yet one subject is often overlooked. That subject is dealing with a client you can’t please. What happens when you have a client that cannot be satisfied and how are you supposed to handle the situation?

Many years ago one of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying: “You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” As much as we want to have a 100% success rate, and as hard as we try to give our very best every time, the likelihood of pleasing everyone, every time is small. In fact, even though we are really good at what we do and our goal is always to please every client, expecting success each time is unrealistic. So, if you’re dealing with a difficult client or you’ve had a client you cannot please, don’t be too hard on yourself. It happens and based on statistics, it happens to everyone.

Please don’t misunderstand my message. I am not of the mind that a person should provide shabby services or give less than 100%, because I believe it’s critically important to provide what we promise. In fact, I expect my clients to tell me if I missed the mark, which is why I offer a couple of opportunities for proofing purposes and the chance to try again. So, yes, we are supposed to do everything in our power to give our best to every project and of course we want our clients to be satisfied all the time. We love it when we receive accolades for our work, but there are times when it just won’t happen. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, certain people will not be pleased. And it doesn’t matter how many times you revise or redo the project, they are just not happy.

For those who might be struggling with a disgruntled client or having difficulty with a person that is simply impossible to please, my recommendation is to accept that some people are just never satisfied. No matter how great of a service you provide, and no matter how hard you’ve tried, you simply will not please everyone all of the time. As long as you’ve given it your best shot and done everything you know to make the project shine, it’s very possible that the client is just one of those people that will never be satisfied. I suggest that you let it go and move on. There are thousands who will appreciate your gifts and will value what you provide, so never let that difficult person make you feel bad about yourself or your talent. It’s just not worth it. Instead of upsetting yourself over a misfired project, why not focus on the bigger picture and remember the many successes and positive aspects of your work. Remember, one client’s disapproval is not a reflection of you or your work. If you have a positive track record, and always give your projects the time and attention they deserve, maybe it’s best to chalk it up to experience and simply let it go.