I’m a virtual assistant except that I often go to my client’s homes or workplace. I have a client who never gives me enough information to do the job properly & when I try to clarify what it is she needs doing, she makes me feel stupid for asking & speaks to me like I’m one of her children!

Whatever she wants, I know that what I do will never make her happy; I thought it was me at first but then realised that none of my other clients had any issues with my work & were actually delighted with my performance.

After receiving 3 calls on a Sunday before I was even dressed, I considered sacking her; she was undermining my confidence & clearly thought she was my only client & that I should drop everything to address her every whim. Luckily she is now on a business trip for 3 months & I’m going to try to keep her at arms length upon her return.

I was advised that just because I’m a new freelancer starting out, it doesn’t mean that I have to put up with unreasonable demands from a client.

Another type of clients (IMO) is the sheep type, which is perfect for Project Managers. The sheep type just wants to be led, and has perfect trust in the Project Manager (this trust is usually established over time, due to the hard work and transparency of the Project Manager). In order to maintain this sweet and convenient relationship, the Project Manager has to be honest and genuinely interested in the having the client succeed.

These profiles are great for helping me think about how I would approach these “natural beasts in the wild.”

I also think we too often try to do it our way when we deal with clients. In the end, I think it is important to make solutions fit comfortably with different clients’ personalities, culture, and attitudes.

We have a client who is, in a way pretty easy. We hardly hear from him and we do make attempts to check in with him at least once a week.

When we do hear back, he has not paid attention to the detail we have provided him. So we have to repeat and reteach, if you will, until he understands.

We have provided him with what he needs. In a way he’s a bean counter too. So we provide the numbers, and we also strive to go above and beyond that.

So in the case of this Slipshoded client who “also” does the disappearing act pretty well, yet who continues to pay us for the work we do, on time, should we be concerned or is there another way to better attend to him?

I’ve often told myself to enjoy this one because there is a day soon, just around the corner we may have to deal with someone who is difficult or better yet, fits the descriptions above you’ve posted.

So far we’ve been pretty lucky.

We care deeply about our clients, but how do you know when you’re caring too much?

We provide the results, they keep paying, no complaints thus far that are vital and cannot be fixed, but there is a lack of communication for this one.

We care so we get concerned, but I try to tell staff not to let it consume their day by getting overly concerned, because all we can do is continue to reach out. Although balance that so we don’t become annoying to him.

Any thoughts?