Hello again,
Don’t you hate it when clients turn out to be right? It happened to me recently, and it was embarrassing.
They suggested a change to a user interface, and I was not convinced. However, it was an obvious winner when we implemented and tested it. I was wrong.
Worst still, this wasn’t the first time this had happened to me. Unfortunately, it happens frequently, and I hope I am not alone; otherwise, this will be an embarrassing confession!
It Starts With Hurt Pride
I think it starts with pride, to be honest. That feeling of affront that a client thinks they might know better than me and my chosen approach.
However, I should know better by now. Anybody can have a good idea. You don’t need to be an expert or designer. Yes, as a professional doing this for 27 years, I will probably have more good ideas, but that doesn’t exclude others from having them.
I try to swallow my pride and look at every suggestion objectively, but it is not always easy, especially if I don’t like the client very much. It is even more annoying when somebody you dislike is right!
Do you need help working with stakeholders or clients? I do offer one-to-one coaching to help with this and many other issues. You might want to check out my coaching services here.
It Is Okay to Challenge Client’s Ideas
Not that I blindly implement every idea a client has. We will discuss it, and I will ask questions to ensure it is properly thought through. However, I will try my best to experiment with as many of their ideas as possible because they can surprise you more often than you think.
Of course, that leads to the awkward moment when they turn out to be correct. It is easy to fall into the trap of becoming defensive and embarrassed. I was embarrassed that they were right and I was wrong.
Don’t Reject an Idea Out of Embarrassment
That can result in us arguing against an idea, even when we know it works in our hearts. But being an expert in digital isn’t about having all the answers or being right all the time. Instead, it is about working collaboratively with others and adopting the best solution wherever it comes from. It’s about swallowing your pride and overcoming embarrassment to accept and praise a client’s contributions.
An experienced professional is confident enough in their capabilities to not get defensive in such situations but rather appreciate what others bring to the table even when it does intrude on your area of expertise.
Overcoming Embarrassment Benefits Everybody
However, this isn’t just about doing the right thing; it also provides selfish benefits. For example, clients are more likely to listen to your ideas if they see you listening to them. Also, admitting you are wrong projects confidence and makes people more likely to trust your judgement on other occasions when you do insist you are right.
In short, overcoming your embarrassment benefits everybody: you, the client and the project.
So next time a client comes to you with an idea, try not to see it as an attack on your capability or allow it to injure your pride. Instead, try and listen to them with an open mind and accept their suggestions without embarrassment when they are right.
