Signs Of A Toxic Client & How To Deal or Not  With Them 

Table Of Content

Clients are the lifeline of every business. Whether you work for an agency, independently, or have started your own business, clients must be dealt with as much care as your work. Most clients are a joy to work with; however, toxic clients are an unfortunate reality for all businesses.

We have all had difficult clients we could not get rid of fast enough and who have bothered us to no end. As a business owner, you need to identify the warning signs before getting into business with such clients. 

So, what are those red flags to look out for in a bad client? How to deal with toxic customers? 

Questions to be asked 

Toxicity, how to recognise and how to deal with it.

What can be considered as toxic behaviour? 

Toxic is anything poisonous to your well-being that interferes with your peace, and you cannot function in a productive manner without burning out.

So when you realize what is toxic and identify it, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions.

Like what is at stake? What are the forces at play? What are your priorities?

Let's deal with the first question. What is at stake?

Quite simply, put your entire business. If a client is a big shot, he can manipulate reality and be believed based on his influence. 

So is it worth working with them and risking your reputation?

Simply put, it depends on you and how much risk you are willing to pay and take to add a big-shot client to protect your portfolio of the clients you worked with and the future profits or loss of money associated with it.

Second question: What forces are at play? 

That could be socio-political, economic, etc., so understanding the forces at play would make you understand their power and how they can influence your public repertoire.

What are your priorities?

Is the peaceful environment at your office more important than other clients, or are you willing to sacrifice that because of the financial gain you will have?

These are some of the crucial questions you must ask to decide whether or not your relationship and contract with the agency owners of the client is worth it.

15 Signs You're Dealing With A Potentially Toxic Client & How To Deal With Them

If a client is exhibiting toxic behaviors, it is advisable to take these into account before you can start. You can get rid of them immediately after you start a project. They'll probably have no money to pay and the emotions will take no more than it costs. This list of telltale signs of toxic clients is helpful in protecting the brand culture in a marketplace.

You Don’t See Eye To Eye On Anything

Boundaries Are Not Respected At All

Zero Direction But Endless Revisions

Bad-Mouthing Other Service Providers

Asking You To Compromise Ethics

Being critical of everything you do or offer

They Are Rude And Use Foul Language.

Negotiating Prices All The time.

Lack Of Clarity In Their Requirements.

Lack of time and constant hurry

The constant threat of ultimatums

Their Behaviour Is Insulting or Demeaning.

Lack of consideration

No apology for their mistakes

1. You Don’t See Eye To Eye On Anything

Initially, there might be some disagreements and hurdles, but eventually, you and your client should develop an understanding. But if your client isn’t working with you peacefully and is raising issues at every stage, expect problems to arise.

As Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi rightfully said, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

It is true in the case of revenge. Still, in this case of working together, everything is an amalgamation of efforts and teamwork, so we need to look eye to eye and, in the end, have an agreeable decision.

Your client need not agree with you on everything, but if a pattern persists, you will suffer.

Try to handle this as soon as you notice the toxic client trend. Figure out a way to get on the same page, and if you can’t, you can always end your business with them on good terms. You can always explain why your services do not fit their requirements.

2. Boundaries Are Not Respected At All

Boundaries are crucial, whether it's a professional relationship or a personal relationship. Boundaries are a way to protect ourselves from the unwanted actions of others.

Boundaries enable a safe place away from toxicity, play a crucial role, and act like a litmus test.

If a client constantly breaches your boundaries and doesn't respect them, that indicates they are a toxic or difficult client.

Some clients work on the weekends or holidays to get ahead on the project. It is fine to send emails during these days, but it is not acceptable to expect an immediate response. It's one of the most annoying signs of a toxic person that bleeds into your out-of-office time.

Resolve this issue by establishing and communicating your boundaries.

Specify "working hours" with each client and specific times when they can expect a response from your end, for example – 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. Moreover, it is also healthy to specify your average response time for emails. Clients who are always trying to push boundaries should be avoided.

3. Zero Direction But Endless Revisions

The ability to journey foot forward becomes easier when the vision is clear. If you constantly revise based on past experiences, it can be a recipe for disaster. Such revisions could add to the time and cost of the project.

The alignment of roles and responsibilities should be crystal clear. While it is your job to ideate, it is equally important for your client to chime in regarding their requirements with respect to the final output they expect out of the project.

Suppose they're not giving you any directions and insisting on moving forward. In that case, you might have to indulge in multiple revisions, even more so than covered in the scope of work initially finalised.

Develop an input process to ask questions from employees and the client to get specific information and advice regarding the project. Before starting work, define the total number of revisions in the contract. In some cases, consider the process of getting money paid upfront.

4. Bad-Mouthing Other Service Providers

Sometimes, it is justified when a client badmouths a business, but more often than not, defaming other companies signifies that the client will be difficult to satisfy.

Trash talk can be a sign that the customer might be gossipy, desperate, or impractical. Working with them could create problems for you. If they can belittle someone, they are likely to put down your business and harm your reputation as well.

If you notice this habit of your new client, try to find out why they are saying bad things about a business. Be polite, and don’t bug them too much for the information. By finding out what went wrong in the past, you can learn what to expect from them.

5. Asking You To Compromise Ethics

With clients and ever-increasing privacy/security standards, you must comply with the work and services you’re doing for your clients.

Suppose you have notified a client that a specific action is unethical. Still, they are forcing you to do it anyway. In that case, you’d better get out of this deal before things get messy.

Ethics makes you and your employees business leaders. If you can compromise on that, you are compromising on the company, new clients, and yourself. So if someone expects you to bend your values based on their objectives is a big red flag of a toxic clientele.

6. Being critical of everything you do or offer

If criticism is all they know, they give you something to watch out for. Suppose there is no appreciation of your work. They only like pinpointing your flaws and mistakes and are always looking for what's wrong. In that case, that's some serious business!

They never consider the advantages. They never recognise or acknowledge your efforts or hard work. It's as though nothing you do is ever enough for them. It's as if they expect you to be flawless at all times, and when you are not, they get furious and disappointed. It's a losing scenario that's tiring.

7. They Are Rude And Use Foul Language

If they say constantly use hateful words. Or use phrases that are personal and hurt your sentiments. It's a big red flag. Hate Speech is not flattering and says a lot about a person, so it is important to be cautious and avoid those individuals altogether.

They use bad words when angry and are not polite or civil. Words are very important and, if not used rightly, could make or break a person or company.

Even in stressful times, choosing your words carefully and communicating with politeness and respect is important. Good communication skills aid in the resolution of disagreements and the formation of positive relationships. Words have the power to either build or destroy bridges.

8. Negotiating Prices All The time

The client always asks you to do the work for a lower price and never agrees to pay following the value of the level of expertise and work, you put in. A client requests a little bit of negotiation, and the only intention is negotiation are two different things.

A person willing to pay what you deserve, and when you are even compensated for free work, shows they value you and your skills and ability. A person unwilling to do that will do the opposite.

When someone values you and your work, you will be more likely to give your best and create something of greater quality. On the other hand, when someone is unwilling to pay you, they are not likely to get the best of your work. Additionally, working for free or a smaller amount than you are worth can be demoralizing and disheartening.

9. Lack Of Clarity In Their Requirements

The customer needs to know what they want. If the customer is unclear and does not tell you what they expect but tends to blame you when they don’t get what they want. This kind of behaviour is a red flag.

The client needs to know what they want. Any business to deliver to consumers, it is essential to convey those requests and expectations clearly, which is why it is essential to refrain from clients unwilling to share their requests and expectations, as it would only lead to disappointment.

Obtaining specific directions from the client is best to guarantee that the project is performed as anticipated. If the client is unwilling to cooperate, politely refuse the work and look for other options. It will save both time and money.

10. Lack of time and constant hurry

If they aren't giving you the minimum required time to do the task with due efficiency and are always in a hurry, then they sure are a red flag of a toxic client.

When you rush to complete the work, you don't get time to reflect and take feedback. Your only concern is getting things done without proper retrospection of where you went wrong, which is needed for development and positive change.

Without self-reflection, it is impossible to recognise what needs to be changed or improved. You can gain insight into your mental processes and behaviors through reflection. It can assist you in becoming more mindful and conscious of your behaviors.

11. The constant threat of ultimatums

If they give you ultimatums like either you do this job, pay this, or we are out for every minute disagreement, you might need to reconsider your working relationship with them.

If you are always in fear, they are likely to take advantage, abuse and exploit their power. In that case, it's better to be careful around those individuals and not work with such people.

Set boundaries and trust your instincts. If you feel intimidated, speak up and take action. It is important to surround yourself with helpful and understanding people.

12. Their Behaviour Is Insulting or Demeaning

They belittle your talents, extensive knowledge and, take advantage of what you have to offer, and discourage you in a mean way.

Respect is the foundation of everything. If basic respect is missing, then there is no point in working with people with such values and mindsets.

Without respect, forming relationships based on trust and collaboration is impossible. People who lack respect are unlikely to listen and learn, not to mention work effectively with others. Respect is essential for any successful team.

13. Lack of consideration

They are not considerate towards your life and situations and constantly expect extra work to be done even though you are not in a position to do so.

Having courtesy is something everybody should possess as a human, and be empathetic in unique life situations. We should not only be open to diverse points of view, but we should also be sympathetic to others.

We should be willing to put ourselves in the shoes of others and strive to comprehend their perspectives. Kindness and empathy can go a long way toward fostering great connections.

14. No apology for their mistakes

They cannot apologise and take accountability for their mistakes whenever they make a mistake.

If someone thinks they can never be wrong and always find you at fault, it's a sure-shot sign of toxicity and should be avoided at all costs. This attitude will only lead to disputes and hatred, making it difficult to talk constructively with such a person.

It is important to avoid this type of individual and form good relationships with those prepared to listen, compromise, and respect your viewpoint.

Final Thoughts

One rotten apple spoils the whole basket. Similarly, one toxic client can ruin the whole atmosphere. Do not let anyone demean you or take advantage of you. No client is the be-all and end-all, even though it may sometimes seem like it.

The best way to deal with toxic clients is not to deal with them. Have standards for what kind of client you work with and expected standards of behavior to abide by.

When dealing with difficult customers, you should be careful; dealing with toxic clients is not productive for your agency or freelance business. Getting rid of them can lift a lot of weight off your shoulders. It will also help you focus your time and efforts on more valuable clients.