6 tips for handling difficult clients

Whether you are part of a large PR or marketing agency, toil for a smaller organization or work solo, managing client relationships is no easy task.

It takes effective communication, understanding, and constant efforts to ace agency-client dynamics. While many clients are a breeze to work with, at some point, you will encounter clients who are a nightmare to handle—and like any relationship, even the amazing ones can be difficult at times.

Things happen.

Whether it’s a client who keeps unrealistic expectations or one who never seems to know what they want, the truth is managing client relationships is part and parcel of agency life.

One must know how to tackle them well to succeed. Gone are the days of “the client is always right.” Sometimes, it’s a communications professional’s job to outline and champion best practices, which means saying “no” when a client requests something you consider black hat—or simply inadvisable.

Here are six ways to effectively deal with difficult clients and deter them from hampering your team’s productivity: