 | Have you worked with those clients who just seem to take take take? Did you spot them when they first signed up? Do their actions not match their words? You are definitely not alone!As much as we pre screen and interview people they can be as nice a pie but when it comes to turning up (as agreed), paying on time (whatever the arrangement) and perhaps even doing their homework you may set - we can't always spot the 'problem clients' |
Sometimes asking more searching questions about their lives can yield dividends and help us truly understand their situations, what's going on in their businesses or private lives.
I'll share my recent example.
Client tells me he'd like a certain day and a certain time each week - great, works for me and I'll have that automatic payment set up too please! You want my time consistently then there's an ongoing fee attached to that. [Mental health tip #1]
He doesn't respond to reminder text the following week - nothing, nada!
I left it until the following week, in hindsight calling him [Mental Health tip #2] to see if he was OK would have been the best thing to do – I was not in the right headspace, funny that!
Following week, he returns the reminder text, arrives on time and apologises for not responding or turning up to the session. Business had been manic – a sister company of his was heading in the wrong direction and required urgent action which meant 4am starts and 7pm finishes for a while as well as travel. We’re back on track he isn’t deliberately a problem client but could have become one.
We never know what is going on in clients’ lives so we can’t make assumptions about them as people until they show a pattern of behaviour that tells us they are a problem client.
Head these problem clients ‘off at the pass’ by suggesting a different trainer who may be able to help them. [Mental health tip #3]
It is not worth the mental anguish having clients mess you around. Clarifying expectations up front are key to avoiding these circumstances in the first place. [Mental health tip #4] This can be done in person or via a standardised letter you send out once a new clients is signed up and ready to go. Ongoing communication is especially important obviously and calling as well as texting goes a long way to building the relationship outside of sessions together. You could be calling to see if they understand the homework, or how a certain event went that they mentioned to you. [Mental health tip #5]
Continuing with a client that genuinely doesn’t care about your time and the effort that goes into doing what you do really is a person worth questioning and perhaps moving them on [Mental health tip #6] before it gets to the point of real frustration. This isn’t an easy thing to do but in the long run will mean a happier you and a better you for the clients that do all the right things and work well with you.
If you’d like any help feel free to reach out for a chat about your business, body or mind. That’s what we do here!
I'll share my recent example.
Client tells me he'd like a certain day and a certain time each week - great, works for me and I'll have that automatic payment set up too please! You want my time consistently then there's an ongoing fee attached to that. [Mental health tip #1]
He doesn't respond to reminder text the following week - nothing, nada!
I left it until the following week, in hindsight calling him [Mental Health tip #2] to see if he was OK would have been the best thing to do – I was not in the right headspace, funny that!
Following week, he returns the reminder text, arrives on time and apologises for not responding or turning up to the session. Business had been manic – a sister company of his was heading in the wrong direction and required urgent action which meant 4am starts and 7pm finishes for a while as well as travel. We’re back on track he isn’t deliberately a problem client but could have become one.
We never know what is going on in clients’ lives so we can’t make assumptions about them as people until they show a pattern of behaviour that tells us they are a problem client.
Head these problem clients ‘off at the pass’ by suggesting a different trainer who may be able to help them. [Mental health tip #3]
It is not worth the mental anguish having clients mess you around. Clarifying expectations up front are key to avoiding these circumstances in the first place. [Mental health tip #4] This can be done in person or via a standardised letter you send out once a new clients is signed up and ready to go. Ongoing communication is especially important obviously and calling as well as texting goes a long way to building the relationship outside of sessions together. You could be calling to see if they understand the homework, or how a certain event went that they mentioned to you. [Mental health tip #5]
Continuing with a client that genuinely doesn’t care about your time and the effort that goes into doing what you do really is a person worth questioning and perhaps moving them on [Mental health tip #6] before it gets to the point of real frustration. This isn’t an easy thing to do but in the long run will mean a happier you and a better you for the clients that do all the right things and work well with you.
If you’d like any help feel free to reach out for a chat about your business, body or mind. That’s what we do here!
