It’s a fact of life that you’re not going to like every person you meet. For the most part, this isn’t a problem, but it does become an issue when one of those people is your client. Working for someone you don’t care for can be enormously challenging, because not only are you forced to be in regular contact with the client, the fruits of your labor directly benefit them.

Sometimes it’s possible to put your feelings aside to serve a client you don’t care for without issue, and other times it isn’t. Every situation is unique, so create a plan to figure yours out.

4 Ways to Deal With a Client You Don’t Like

Get to the Root of the Problem

Deciphering exactly what it is about the client that irks you will get you one step closer to a resolution. Maybe they call you too much after hours or always expect you to drop what you’re doing to assist them. When you’ve identified the behavior(s) that irritate you, it’s much easier to either accept them as they are or work toward a positive change.

Set Ground Rules

Clients pay your bills, but that doesn’t mean they can do whatever they want. Establish a few rules to help adjust your client’s behavior. For example, explain that you need a one-week turnaround time on projects to do your best work for them. Getting on the same page with the person could make all the difference. It’s very possible they have no idea their behavior is grating on your nerves.

Keep It Professional

You should enjoy most aspects of your job, but sometimes you just have to grin and bear it. Try to remember that the person is a client, not a friend, so you don’t have to like them. Keep all chatter on a professional level and concentrate on the task-at-hand. It might be easier to tolerate the person if work is the sole focus of your conversations.

Know When to Move On

If after giving it a fair try, you still can’t handle your client, it’s time to cut ties. Find another employee at your company with a personality more apt to work with the person. When explaining the shift to the client, it should go without saying that you cannot mention anything about your disdain for them. Simply explain that their new representative is better apt to serve them.

Client management requires a great deal of time and energy, so join forces with ECS to make sure you can handle all the responsibilities on your list. Our team provides a full suite of services to recruiters and payrolling and independent contractor management services to employers. Contact us today to discuss your needs!