There come a time in every relationship when people don’t always see eye to eye – marriages, parent and child relationships…even business relationships.
When it’s your loved ones there are ways that you can express yourself that you can’t in a business relationship.
This is what makes it even more complicated and and comfortable. But no matter how difficult when a relationship is not working the best thing to do is to evaluate it and move on. And sometimes this means severing ties.
How to end a client relationship
Stay calm
Making personal attacks, being hostile and raging in like a bull in a China shop won’t help matters any. No matter how fraught the relationship is, try to stay calm when you have the conversation or send the email.
Try to see it from their perspective
Remember, you’re splitting up for your own reasons – this may be known to the client to already but if you’ve kept a dignified and professional relationship in the events leading up to the breakup it will come as a shock. Try to be sympathetic – ending a relationship is no easier for the client.
Get to the point
Sometimes over explaining can cause confusion. Don’t let guilt or emotions get in the way – keep it short and simple (and polite!).
Avoid vague comments. If you’re saying goodbye for good, say so.
Stay professional at all costs
As tempting as it may be to really tell your client what a pain in yr you know eat they’ve been and how much you’re glad to see the back of them…don’t!
Don’t drag up past events, point the finger or lay blame. It really isn’t necessary. Just stay professional and keep to the positive facts. Bad feelings bread gossip and the last thing you need is someone badmouthing your business.
Be fair and don’t leave your client in the lurch
Don’t leave a client stuck with an unfinished project – it will make you look unprofessional and no matter how happy they’ve been with your former work, they’ll always remember (and probably spread) how you left them with a poorly finished project.
Be thankful and move on
Every situation teaches us something about ourselves and working with other people. Thank your client for the experience and what you’ve learned working with him, even if it was all bad.
This is an experience that will help you re-evaluate your processes and systems so you can protect yourself for the better in future. Perhaps your can look at your terms and conditions and make sure you can add a clause in it that will protect you from such an experience in the future.
