TREPONOMICS
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TOUGH AS NAILS… AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY
DERIVING PLEASURE FROM DEALING WITH “DIFFICULT” CLIENTS By Octavia Nasr
I
n any business that involves human interaction, you are bound to run into clients you deem “difficult.” In fact, difficult people are everywhere in every aspect of life, including in business. Although difficult clients are a reality every businessperson has to deal with, I find the term “difficult” to be overused and misused, even abused in some instances. Many people use it lightly without appreciation for the impact their opinion has and the weight it can carry where it can potentially unfairly damage or ruin someone’s reputation. When I hear that term used, I take it to mean: “I don’t like this person.” I tell myself not to pass judgment before I experience that person’s “difficulty”, if any, on my own. 28
Entrepreneur
juLY 2014
Over the years, I have been described as difficult by some people, and it is highly likely that you have been, too. I always take it seriously and try to understand the root of the claim. Sometimes I’m proud of that description, because it means that the person found me too “difficult” to alter my beliefs or compromise my principles and damage my reputation or allow certain behaviors that I find unethical to pass. At other times, I felt that the claim was true -especially in trying situations such as breaking news scenarios or instances of sensitive decision-making- or where the damage from going forward with something