The Complete Guide On How To Deal With A Difficult Customer

Your clients are the heart and soul of your business and can make or break you. When you have a client who you enjoy working with, everything is smooth and easy. But when you have a problematic client on your hands, things can go south quickly. In this article, our experts here at PeerDive are sharing tips for spotting potentially problematic clients and dealing with them before they become a headache for your business.

How To Identify A Problematic Client

It's important to know that you're not alone. Nearly every business owner has dealt with a difficult client at some point. Unfortunately, it's one of the most common problems--and it can be frustrating!

But you should also remember that having a problematic client can be an opportunity for growth. You'll learn how to deal with difficult situations and develop strategies for avoiding them in the future.

Steps You Can Take When Identifying A Problematic Client

It can be tricky to identify a problematic client, so I've compiled a list of warning signs you should look out for. The first step is to be aware of the warning signs. Here are some of them to be on the lookout for:

The client has a history of being difficult. If you've worked with this person before, check your notes and see if there were any issues during previous projects that could indicate future problems. If so, ask yourself if you're willing to deal with them again (and again).
They aren't clear about what they want/need from your business or even themselves! Many clients don't know exactly what they need until after talking with you for a while; however, some have no idea at all when they first reach out, and that's not good news for anyone involved!
To avoid unnecessary back-and-forth emails (and wasted time), ensure everyone involved is on the same page immediately. Start by asking questions like "What are some specifics I should know about before getting started?" and "Is there anything else important for me to know?" This way, everyone knows where we stand regarding budget/timeline/etc., which makes things easier later on when deadlines start looming overhead, or worse yet: falling through entirely because someone didn't communicate properly beforehand."

What do you do when you think you might have a problem client?

If you think you have a problem, client, there are a few things you can do. First and foremost, ask for references. Suppose you are hiring a freelancer, for example. In that case, they should be happy to provide you with at least three references from previous clients willing to vouch for their work ethic and ability as an employee if the freelancer balks at this request or cannot provide at least three good referrals--or even one!--it's probably best not to work with them on your project after all.

Second, ask for a list of past clients (including contact info). This will give you insight into how well they communicate with others in business settings and whether or not they've been able to keep their commitments over time; if every single person listed says, "I'm never doing business with [insert name here] again," then maybe it's time for someone else on your team take over managing this project instead?

What should you do if your client changes their mind about something?

If the client changes their mind about something and wants you to change it back, here are some things to consider:

Ask them why they changed their mind. If they aren't willing to explain themselves, ask them to leave a comment on the website or email you with their new request so that everyone can see what's going on.
If they still aren't satisfied with the answer and insist on changing it back anyway, go ahead and do so--but make sure that any updates are reflected in your project notes so that everyone knows what happened (and why).

If they do change their mind, go ahead and make the change. But be sure to note in your project notes why you made the change and what the original request was. This will help you keep track of changes that were requested but not implemented for future reference if necessary.

What's the best way to communicate with a difficult client?

If the client changes their mind about something and wants you to change it back, the best way to deal with a difficult client is to avoid getting defensive and taking it personally if they are rude or insulting. Instead, if you find yourself in a situation where the client is being unreasonable and don't know how else to handle it, try changing the subject by asking them a few questions about themselves. This can help diffuse an otherwise tense situation and make both parties feel more comfortable working together again later on!

How To Avoid A Difficult Client

Avoid the headaches that come from having a difficult client in the first place with PeerDive.. At PeerDive, we created this platform to learn more about their customers before they do business with them. Users can search Peer Dive and read real reviews from other business owners who interacted with a potential client. You can find out if this particular client has a history of putting false reviews on a business.

Our mission is to make it a little easier for businesses to work in a fair environment where reviews are not just one-sided as they are mainly portrayed on popular review sites such as Yelp and Google Reviews. With Peer Dive, you can learn all you need to know about a client before doing business with them.

How can I deal with a client who is bad at keeping deadlines?

The best way to deal with a client who is bad at keeping deadlines is to be flexible and patient. You don't want to be too demanding, but you also don't want them to take advantage of your flexibility.

Understand their situation: Is the project they're working on really important? Are they under pressure from other clients or their bosses? Are there personal issues that could affect how often they can work on your project?
Be clear about what you need from them: If you need something by a specific date, tell them when it needs to be done and why it is important for completing the project successfully (or getting paid). This will help ensure everyone's expectations are aligned, so there are no surprises later.
If they are late: Don't punish them! Understandably, waiting around for someone else's work product can be frustrating when yours depends on theirs being finished first; however, punishing someone too hard won't help anyone. It might even backfire on you. Instead, try rewarding good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior. Set the expectation upfront, so they know their deadlines and what to expect going forward.

Tip on how to deal with difficult clients

Learning to and dealing with demanding clients is a skill that can be learned. Here are some tips:

Listen carefully and ask questions. If the client says something that doesn't make sense or sounds off, ask them to clarify what they mean. This will help you understand their needs better, making it easier for you to provide them with the solutions they want.
Be patient and persistent when working with difficult people; don't let yourself get frustrated by someone else's behavior or attitude! Remember that these are just tactics some people use to get what they want--if someone is acting rudely toward you, chances are good that they're trying too hard at being difficult to get what they want.
Be assertive but fair: sometimes, our clients may say things we don't like hearing, but there's no reason why we should respond negatively to them. Instead, try saying something like, "I'll think about what has been said here today before making any decisions." This shows respect while giving yourself time away from pressure situations where emotions run high--which happens often enough when dealing directly.

Conclusion

There are many ways to deal with difficult clients, but the most important thing is to stay calm and professional. If you do that, you can keep yourself from getting frustrated and angry when faced with a problem client.

About PeerDive:

Peer Dive is a popular online directory created exclusively for businesses to leave and view reviews on individuals before offering their products and or services. Peer Dive was created to help local businesses and their communities make the most informed decision on who they want to do business with.