Firing a client is usually a difficult decision. Though, sometimes it’s the best course of action, it’s hard to let go of a lucrative relationship. But, when it’s intolerable, and not particularly worthwhile monetarily, moving on is generally the best. However, there are times when you might reconsider. If so, you’ll need to take certain precautions before committing to doing business again. Read on to learn more about how to determine if rehiring a fired client is really the right thing to do.
Most Common Considerations
Perhaps the individual has re-approached you with a plea to resume your working relationship. Or, you're attempting to rebuild your book of business after experiencing a negative impact from the pandemic shutdowns. Whatever the reason, there are, of course, some considerations you'll have to factor into your decision. These begin with trusting your gut instinct.
When you have a business, satisfied clients are essential to your continuous success. Knowing your ideal client and their particular needs is critical to your success. However, pursuing non-ideal ones can kill your business. It pays to be picky about which clients you choose to work with. --Entrepreneur.com
The little inner voice in your head can be an extraordinarily valuable tool. It's a resource in your consciousness that helps you to determine to take one action or another. So, definitely give it it's due because it will most likely point you in the right direction.
Also, you should take at least a little time to revisit your past with this individual. It's helpful to make a list of pros and cons, and then compare and contrast those with the relationship going forward, particularly if you're confident that things will be different this time.
What's more, it's worth warning that if you're doing this solely for the money, it's probably going to lead to another bad outcome. So, understand that you should have other valid reasons for re-establishing the business relationship.
How to Re-Engage an Old Client
Whether you're sincerely convinced that this person is committed to a new way of doing things, or you get a completely different feeling than before, these could be false positives. In other words, do not let the potential outweigh the reality. Fortunately, there are some precautionary measures you can take, like the following:
- Listen very carefully. You'll obviously talk to the individual about doing business again and this is a golden opportunity to listen carefully for telltale warning signs that it's not going to be a positive experience. So, when you do discuss your possible resumption of doing business together, listen and take some mental or written notes about his or her attitude, they are overall enthusiasm, and commitment to a mutually beneficial relationship.
- Talk to other businesses. Just speaking with the individual might not be enough to give you a clear picture. We've all experienced someone who has promised to change this or that, only to be let down. Take a little time to talk to other companies that are currently doing business with this individual and you'll probably learn quite a lot from those conversations. Just a little input from your peers could well be enough to help you make the right decision.
- Establish a clear trial period. Of course, If the previous experience was a negative one, you shouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past. Fortunately, because you have experienced this relationship before, you probably are very well aware of the frustrations. Use this information to establish a trial. And this way, your not setting yourself up for a big mistake.
What other suggestions do you have for dealing with previously bad clients as a business owner? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective!
Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.
How to Avoid Decision Fatigue; Wait, Avoid What?
November 14, 2018
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Decision fatigue. It’s a phenomenon which probably affects you. Yet, you’re not truly aware of it. Put another way, you’ve likely felt its impact, but just didn’t know what to make of it. Or, more particularly, what to call it. That’s okay. It’s something many people experience a few times. Others are hit with it a lot — a whole lot. Usually, these are individuals in positions of authority. You know, the “decision makers.” Although we joke about it, the truth of the matter is, making decisions gets harder and harder as the day goes on. So, let’s look at some ways to avoid decision fatigue. Is Decision Fatigue Actually Real? The short answer to the question above is a resounding, “Yes!” Decision fatigue is real. In fact, two university researchers examined more than 1,000 decisions made by judges in Israel. Said judges either decided to grant or to deny parole. Prisoners who appeared in the morning, about 9 am, fared quite well. Those offenders had a 70 percent chance of making parole. Decision fatigue can seem harmless enough. Spending a few extra minutes deciding between chicken or beef isn’t the end of the world. But what you may not realize is that those little moments of turmoil could be negatively impacting your business. If left unchecked, decision fatigue can lead to reckless behavior like compulsive spending or, worse, the inability to make any decisions at all. —CNBC.com But, by the time mid-afternoon rolled around, those chances dropped down to just 10 percent. The conclusion, of course, was the judges simply used-up their stamina and therefore, took the simplest and safest way out. Ways to Avoid Decision Fatigue Now, if you’ve ever felt “used-up” at the end of the day, like your brain can’t process any more, decision fatigue is a likely culprit. Here are a few suggestions for how to avoid decision fatigue to better your work performance: Start tomorrow today. At the end of every day, start getting things in order for the next morning. Don’t make big decisions. Just get organized so you’re ready to go when you come back tomorrow. While this might seem too simple, it will have a big impact. Make important decisions early. When you start your day, don’t “ease” into it. Instead, challenge yourself by making the most important decisions when you’re most fresh and have new energy. You’ll see things more clearly and have a better sense of which way to go. Stop second-guessing yourself. In the military, some class instructors tell their students to bite the erasers off of their pencils right before starting a test. It’s not literal — it’s a figure of speech. It means your first intuition is typically the right one; so, don’t second-guess yourself. Snack and exercise every day. It’s a very good practice to have a solid but sensible breakfast in the morning. A light lunch is also a sound practice. But, you might feel a bit worn by mid-afternoon. The cure? Exercise and have a small snack to re-energize. What other ways do you combat decision fatigue? Please share your experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.
