A Bad Client Experience Can Be Discouraging, Don’t Let It Get the Best of You

As a designer, you’re eventually going to have to deal with a terrible client experience. More than likely, you’ve already had your fair share.

It’s an inevitable situation that you won’t avoid forever, but you can’t let them get the best of you!

Here are a few things to help you stay motivated and bounce back moving forward.

Reflect on the experience.?

Take some time to process what happened and identify key lessons learned.?

Determine not only what challenges were caused by the client, but what issues may have been your fault as well.

Understand that setbacks are an opportunity for improvement and growth.?

Surround yourself with positivity.?

Engage with your design community, seek support from design colleagues, and draw inspiration from success stories.

Sometimes it’s ok to just vent and let it all out to gain some outside perspective.

A supportive network can boost your motivation and remind you of your passion for design.

Evaluate your process.

Break projects down into smaller milestones with client sign-offs.

By setting measurable targets, you'll regain a sense of progress and collaboration.?

This keeps clients engaged leaving less room for miscommunication!?

Experiment with a new approach.?

Use the setback as an opportunity to consider changes to how you manage a project.?

Try out different discovery methods, utilize project management tools, attempt new design techniques, and improve presentation skills.

Approaching a project from a different angle can improve the final outcome.

Celebrate small victories along the way.?

Acknowledge and reward yourself for every win, no matter how small.?

By recognizing your progress, you'll maintain a positive mindset and your client will feel that energy too.

Successful design collaborations fuel your motivation to keep pushing.

A bad client experience doesn’t define you.

It’s important to remember, one crappy client experience shouldn’t define you and your abilities as a designer.?

Embrace the challenges, learn from your mistakes, and use them as a guide for improvement.?

Stay motivated, keep pushing forward, and close out strong!

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