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Oct
05

What do you do if someone doesn’t like your work?

Have you ever tried on the same dress (or shirt, or hat..) as a friend, and it looks awesome on one of you and awful on the other? Why is that? Well, because not everything is made for everyone. Some things just don’t work for some people, no matter what.

This is oh-so true for creative services as well. At some point, anyone who provides a creative service is going to run across a client that doesn’t like the result.

When this happens, there are two ways to handle this situation:

  1. Cry like a baby and whine about the fact that they didn’t like what you created. Get pouty and crabby and start blaming everyone else. End the relationship on a bad note and never get to work with them again. Gain absolutely nothing.
  2. Realize that sometimes, you and your client do not fit. Suggest another provider with whom they might be better suited and part amicably, with partial payment for the work you did do. Work together on something else in the future that you do blend well on because you maintained a relationship. Gain respect and learn more about people.

Which one do you pick?

Obviously the second choice… but why is it so important?

In creative fields, there is a lot of room for error – since what someone wants and what you can create will not always be in sync. This doesn’t mean that you did poor work or they are a bad client. What it means is the two of you did not blend in that particular area. It happens. You move on. Most importantly, you save the relationship!

Being in an industry where quality clients and word of mouth is so important, even if you can’t deliver what someone wants, keeping them as a contact is vital for future success. While they may not have been able to work with you, they may have someone who can, and if you part ways on a positive note, they are more likely to refer you.

How do you handle a client who doesn’t like your work?

Related posts:

  1. The 4 types of clients everyone will work with (and how to spot them!)
  2. Nothing like watching your work grow
  3. Are you easy to work with?

Category: Blog Management, Blog Tutorials, Business & Marketing Strategy, Content Development
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  • http://www.paragonmoon.com Kristine Putt

    I go through an extensive creative exploratory phase with my clients before I work with them. This is to both our benefits, as it helps me determine if it’s a project I can confidently tackle. That saves the client money wasted and me from any embarrassment.

  • http://www.wrightcreativity.com Kirsten Wright

    Kristine,

    I believe that even with an intensive exploratory meeting there are still some projects that will never work because the two people were not meant to work together.

    Even after doing that (as all designers should do that prior to any project), have you never had a client that didn’t like the end result?

  • http://www.adamleedesign.com Adam

    I think a third solution would be to go back to the drawing board and start again. As Kristine said, I have an initial process that helps me understand what the client is looking for. Occasionally something in that process will break down and the client won’t be happy with the initial draft (this has only happened 2 or 3 times in 5 years of running my own business). When that has happened I go back to the client to figure out what went wrong. So far I’m always able to get it on the second try.

    I would much rather figure out the problem and fix it then send the client on to someone else to start the process all over. Of course if I think there’s just no way around it then I would recommend them to someone else but my initial information gathering process usually helps me weed out the relationships that aren’t going to work well.

  • http://www.paragonmoon.com Kristine Putt

    Kirsten,

    There are two different matters going on here:

    “What do you do if someone doesn’t like your work” is solved by going back to the initial exploratory phase. A really thorough exploratory phase will eliminate this from ever becoming an issue in the first place. Am I biting off more than I can chew? Is this project outside of my abilities? These issues can be avoided by asking the right questions of your client at the very beginning. I put my client through an extensive, 30+ questionnaire. The answers they provide tell me if I should proceed and how.

    But…

    “Is this person someone I can even work with?” is an altogether different subject. You have to trust your instincts, listen to your gut. Are they rude? Abusive? Demanding? There is no questionnaire that can predict how a client will treat you when you disagree. You need to know your own boundaries and make a firm affirmation that there is a line you will NOT cross, no matter how much they are willing to pay.

    Hope this helps?
    .-= Kristine Putt´s last blog ..French Connection Dog Grooming =-.

  • http://www.wrightcreativity.com Kirsten Wright

    Kristine, Definitely cleared up your answer – thanks for adding a bit more :)

    I think what I was trying to explain was that even if the client is a great client, sometimes your creative ideas just don’t mesh. And yes, I think having a huge exploratory period can help, but I do believe at some point, there will be at least 1 client that just doesn’t like the end result.

    Which is where Adam, you make a great point as well – Fixing it is a great option, if you can. What worries me (and why I wrote the article) is that there is just sometimes that I don’t believe it can be fixed. I think sometimes, there is just no way to be on the same wavelength. And I also don’t believe that can always be figured out ahead of time…

  • http://www.adamleedesign.com Adam

    Kirsten, I’m sure there could be times where you just can’t make it work with a client. At those times you would just need to cut them loose. I’ve been fortunate enough to not have that issue so far. :)

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