Have you ever made yourself shrink into a corner and accidentally tick off one of your clients? Are you the good samaritan who apologizes and keep on working? Or are you the person who likes to worry about leaving a bad mark so you try to hurry and get the project done?
Well, I wouldn’t mind apologizing or forgiving because we all make mistakes in our life. If we don’t make any, then how do we learn efficiently?
Imagine your client being all fired up because you misinterpreted their design or might have overlooked quite a few typos. The client has every right to be rather pissed off since it was our lack of attention that might’ve sparked the fire.
But if the mistake was comitted in the middle of the project, you’ll become worried of handling the situation. You’d be afraid to slip up again because another mistake might just have you not losing just a client but the relationship between the client.
As tempting as money from a client forever is, I appreciate and would rather maintain the bond I have with them. I’d like to be informed of their movement in either their business or their life. I’d like to remain their friend and business associate.
That’s why when there’s a ‘booboo’, we need to take the initiative and try our best to apologize the best we can. The mistake we had made already became the past so why burden ourselves with it.
It’s easier to learn and grow then memorize and pause yourself at something that passed a few minutes ago. I learnt this really early in college when I spilled quite a lot of paint over a canvas painting we (group project) needed to finish in a hurry.
I was blaming myself of how clumsy I was and I couldn’t speak a word to my teammates because I knew that I was responsible. However, one of them just gave me a pat on the back and suggested a solution to all of it. That moment was a huge learning stone for me not only as a lesson to be more careful but as a point I could add to my personality level.
So if a client is mad with you for overlooking certain things, just apologize and get on with the project. We’re mature professionals and not babies that hold grudges anymore.
it is good to identify which part you have done wrong and admit it… not many does that. the thing dealing with client is always end up with confusion or misunderstanding and if thing goes wrong, just look at the overall picture… it might be your fault or the client fault but the question here lies whether we wanna continue a good relationship with our client. like u say, we r professional and we solve any problem that arise not making it worst by blaming other or avoiding it… bravo dude… keep up the good work
Definitely that the right thing to do. There’s no point to argue with clients since they are always correct. :)
I have to agree with EngLee. The customer is always right and he is paying. Do what they want. Do a good job and charge a good price. ;-)
Apologising is a necessary thing most times. We’re human and we make mistakes. That means have to apologise right? You’re right when you say the relationship is important. That’s why TypePad decided to give up to 45 days free to their users because of recent performance issues.
Oh btw, apologising is not a good thing. We have to learn to apologise less by learning from our mistakes and not repeating them.
A good attitude is another thing. From your post I can see that you’ve got that and that you’re not afraid to admit that you’re wrong.
Cheers mate!
here’s the link to the typepad story in case you’re interested http://www.sixapart.com/typepad/news/2005/11/update_on_and_c.html