Let’s not beat around the bush: Micromanaging clients are professional vampires. They suck the life out of your projects, draining your creativity, sanity, and, ultimately, your bottom line. They’re the clients who can’t help themselves, they need to second-guess every decision, question your expertise, and demand to be CC’d on every email. The problem isn’t their desire to be kept in the loop; it’s their utter inability to trust you to do your job.
You’re a professional, not a performing monkey. You have skills, experience, and a damn good portfolio to prove it. They hired you for a reason, presumably because they lacked the expertise to do the job themselves. So why are they now acting like they know better?
Truth is, micromanagement almost always comes from:
- Trust Issues: At their core, they don’t trust you to do the job they hired you to do.
- Control Freaks: Some people can’t let go, because they are addicted to be in the pilot’s seat.
- Insecurity: They’re probably worried and the micromanaging will ease them from their personal hell.
- Ego: Some think because they are paying you that you are now at their beck and call.
Whatever their motivations, the result is always the same: a stifled workflow, a diminished quality of work, and a slow descent into the creative abyss. Trust me, this isn’t about them; this is about you taking back the power you need to succeed.
These clients will hinder all progress you’re trying to do, and also hinder your business, I recall. They’re a headache from the start, and they need you to help their every move with you, then they are not worth working with.
Here’s how to handle these energy vampires and reclaim your workflow:
- Set the Tone Early: Let it be known that you are a professional and that you are skilled. Make your clients believe in your capabilities. The most effective way to do this is to be direct and be transparent, all the time.
- Educate, Educate, Educate: Explain to clients how you come to your decisions. Show them that you are doing due diligence and that they can rest easy because you got it handled.
- Set Communication Guidelines: It is important to be in control so make sure to let them know how you work, how often you would like to communicate. Do not let them set your time or your schedule. You call the shots.
- Delegate Decisions but Stay Informed: Allow the client to have the control and do what they want. Remember that in the end, it is your responsibility to come through.
Tale From the Trenches That Will Help Guide You (And Make You Laugh!)
Once while taking care of a website, my client was being very intrusive as to what needs to be done and when. I was getting very heated, and was starting to dread working with this client.
What I had to remind myself to do was to be thankful and that this business was allowing me to have a great life. Even though I wanted to explode, what needed to be done, was to show that I knew what I was doing. So when push came to shove I did what I was told, but then also did what I wanted. The end result was amazing.
Let’s revisit those case studies:
- The Demise of the Overbearing Marketing Manager: “Akash, a marketing manager with a god complex, thought he knew social media better than the agency he hired. Instead of letting them work their magic, he’d constantly interfere, undoing their strategies and meddling in every detail. The agency, suffocated by his ego, eventually cut ties. Akash learned a hard lesson: true leadership isn’t about control; it’s about trusting the experts you hire.”
- The Web Designer Who Took Control: “Sanjana, a web designer perfectionist to the bone, needed marketing for her new site. To keep her pulse on things, she scheduled 9 AM meetings every day, which quickly devolved into an intrusive session. She was so controlling that the progress came to a standstill, and eventually Sanjana, knowing there had to be a solution, told them to let her do her work, and the results were stunning. The site was a hit, and it taught her that the need to have creative control is something for the experts and if you allow them to do so, they may stun you.”
- The Accountant Who Bailed on a Mess: “Priya, an accountant skilled at cleaning up financial train wrecks, took on a client whose books were a disaster. She tried to work with the client, but the business owner, consumed with needing to be on every transaction. Priya’s expertise was wasted, and she knew this client wasn’t worth it. She ditched the chaos, and did it quickly, and took that time to find clients that would respect her expertise.”
What you can do is to always know that you can take the initiative and leave.
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What can be done?
- You are in power:
You need to believe that you are in power and no matter what, you can call the shots. You are the professional after all, and they should treat you like so. Do not ever back down from who you are. - Communicate how you feel:
You will take all their complaints but there will be a respectful way to say them. If you have a plan just put in the details you know. If they are upset, then all of you can just go and cut ties as necessary. - Always follow your terms:
Clients will do everything to pull you in. But the good thing is that you always are in control, and you may dictate. Just let them know what you’re doing. It’s always all love, and not a problem.
There are very great and talented freelancers out there so don’t feel bad about being the one to pull the plug. Be who you need to be, and let everything play out.
It’s just that easy, and I hope you take heed. You may go out there and show the clients what you can do. You are talented. Never forget it.
Good luck.
Here is a checklist to make sure things do happen:
- remember that clients are people too, it is not a them vs you
- communicate your feelings with assertiveness and conviction
- understand that it is okay to refuse doing the work, it may not be a good fit after all.
By taking the action in the check list above, you will be sure to move forward.
So remember you can do it. I know you will find great success, you’re awesome. And the most important thing that you need to do, is to believe you are amazing and valuable. It’s going to be okay. You’re amazing and I know you will get it done. So stay cool!
What You Need To Do Now:
- Acknowledge Your Worth: Realize that your expertise is valuable and you deserve to be treated with respect.
- Set Strong Boundaries: Define your limits and enforce them without hesitation.
- Be Prepared to Walk Away: Don’t be afraid to fire clients who are toxic or disrespectful.
You’re in the top 1% now. Now you have all the tools to go forth and crush your industry. This is a path to power, so take those steps!
