Into every self-employed life a little rain must fall, right?
Whether they’re a vendor, a client, an employee or a collaborator, we’re all bound to encounter difficult characters from time to time and most of us aren’t prepared for it. We’re ready for changes to Google’s algorithm and updates to social media but disrespectful clients, vendors that don’t deliver, or collaborators who aren’t dependable? Where’s the software for that?
So let’s dive into this topic. Over the next four weeks, I’ll share my thoughts on the ins and outs of managing the relationship side of business relationships, covering things like people to avoid, setting boundaries with the people you do choose to work with, and what to do if that seemingly-lovely professional relationship turns sour.
I’m still learning as I go, but over the years I’ve learned some valuable lessons. Most of the people I’ve had the good fortune to work with and for have been AMAZING (Remarkable even!), and I’ve been lucky to encounter a very few people in 15+ years who weren’t a good fit for me.
A key reason for this, and part of working for yourself and running your own business successfully is knowing who your ideal people really are. Knowing this has helped me avoid problems because I’ve learned how to recognize the red flags before agreeing to work with someone. Of course, this isn’t a 100% foolproof system–sometimes people don’t show their true colors right away–but these proactive measures have really helped me avoid working with people I know won’t be a good fit with my business processes and values.
Afraid to let a potential customer pass you by? Don’t be! Every time you work with someone who isn’t a good fit for you, you’re not spending that time working with great people who are, and who need and value what you have to offer.
So with that, today let’s take a look at how you can tell which people to avoid in the first place.
1. They unprofessionally badmouth people they’ve worked with in the past.
We’ve all been disappointed before. I know I’ve heard from many of my clients who’ve been burned by dicey, unethical developers in the past, and I’ve had my own share of frustrating experiences with vendors, but beware the person whose commentary on previous partners veers towards the personal or profane. There’s a big difference between “we had creative differences” and “I hated her stupid accent and she couldn’t design her way out of a wet paper bag.”
People who fault find with everyone around them should be avoided. Most of the time people who behave in this way are truly unhappy with themselves, and nothing you can do will ever be enough to fix that. Spare yourself, because if they’ll talk that way about someone else, they’re capable of talking that way about you too. Not good.
2. They don’t want to pay your rates.
Someone who has an issue with your pricing is not your client. Period. State your rates and if someone has a problem with it, they’re just not your client. I had a business coach once who put it this way, “people do not walk into an eating establishment and argue with the waiter about the price of the meal, do they?” Of course they don’t. Your experience, time, and value is not up for negotiation–and you don’t have to defend it. As Tom Hopkins so famously says, “price is only an issue in the absence of value.”
3. They’re indecisive.
If someone can’t seem to make a decision and/or stick with it, they’re very likely going to take up a lot of extra time you probably don’t have if you’re running a business–be sure you’re prepared for that if you see this red flag. Also, if someone doesn’t understand their own business or brand, if they don’t quite know how many hours they need from you or exactly how to work together, consider walking away.
Your job is to write/consult/design/code for them, it’s not to lay the groundwork of their business (unless it is, in which case, go for it!). We all do better with clients, employees, vendors, and collaborators who know what they want, respect us as professionals, and trust us to give them our best work.
4. They navigate life (and business) in a negative, suspicious manner.
Are they convinced competitors are stealing their ideas? Do they bemoan tiny setbacks or panic when something doesn’t go exactly as planned–or as they assume it should? Assumers are dangerous people–because they make assumptions without foundation and end up feeling disappointed (and negative) about things regardless. You can never please these people.
Do they make mean-spirited comments about a peer’s success? This might be someone who is better served by a good therapist instead of you (unless you happen to be a therapist). If someone does any of these things, you’re better off without them; you don’t need that negativity in your life or inbox!
5. They lack emotional and/or business intelligence.
Are they terse (even rude) in their communications with you or others? Are they awkward on the phone? Do they take themselves so seriously, they can’t have a conversation without taking offense? If your interactions with them are strained, and you find that is not the case with the overwhelming majority of people with whom you interact, they’re likely strained with everyone. That means if you hire or collaborate with them, everyone who interacts with you will also have to interact with your awkward, terse, emotionally stunted partner. Not ideal!
Similarly, do they lack business intelligence? Do they want to launch products without any marketing? Do they refuse to accept advice from experts or take professional advice as a personal affront? Unless they’re hiring you to be their business coach, you shouldn’t be spending your time convincing them of the merits of social media, marketing, or best practices in your industry.
6. They’re not flexible–not even a little bit.
Hard deadlines are a rare animal in the creative world. They’re right up there with snow leopards and striped tapirs. A lot of creative work requires multiple edits and revisions, no matter how fast, decisive, and talented the team. In fact, unless you are willing to place strict due dates on a client (which would be like trying to herd cats), it’s downright impossible. Set manageable expectations for everyone involved from the beginning. If someone isn’t comfortable with this, I know they’re not the person for me.
7. They don’t respect your process and/or your boundaries.
This topic is covered in more detail in the next post in this series. Just briefly, every business has processes in place that allow them to deliver their products and services in the best possible way. When a contractor, client, or potential partner doesn’t respect this, things can go south fast. Make sure your process and boundaries are clear up front, and don’t choose to work with anyone who won’t respect them.
Ultimately, no tips or advice will trump the most important diagnostic tool you have: your gut. If someone rubs you the wrong way, if you suspect they just aren’t the right fit for you, it’s okay to walk away. You don’t need a long list of objective, quantifiable reasons why a partnership isn’t quite right. Your intuition is enough.
Want more on this topic?
Nick Reese has a terrific post full of simple and practical tips for finding more awesome clients while avoiding problem clients by focusing on your messaging–LOVE.
Kristen Kalp is full of super useful insight on how to find your ideal, perfect clients on her guest post over on Sarah Von Bargen’s blog.
Next week, we’re talking about setting healthy boundaries with the people you do choose to work with. Join my list if you’d like that post delivered straight to your inbox!
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The post How to Tell if Someone is a Good Fit (before you work with them) appeared first on Connect Interactive.