Recently one of my clients started micromanaging me – he wanted me to track every task in Trello and wanted me to write a detailed daily report about what I’ve done and how I’ve done it.
In short: He treated me like an employee.
That made me think.
Normally I envisioned a client–freelancer relationship like a win-win situation.
I give you value, you give me money.
We are both equal entrepeneurs.
But then I analysed all of my client relationships. And I’ve noticed that in every one I act like an employee while my client acts like an employer.
The fault is definetly on my side.
It probably comes from my our first contact, my communication, my presence.
Maybe I’m seeking permission for certain task.
Maybe I let the client make the big decisions (and thus take on the risk).
Maybe I'm choosing the wrong type of clients.
What can I do to stop acting like an employee?
The answer sounds quite simple - do the opposite of the small list above.
Make more decisions?
Set more boundaries?
But do you have any more concret tips on how to be seen 'equal'?
What can I do with existing client relationships, how can I turn them around?
Thank you!
In short: He treated me like an employee.
That made me think.
Normally I envisioned a client–freelancer relationship like a win-win situation.
I give you value, you give me money.
We are both equal entrepeneurs.
But then I analysed all of my client relationships. And I’ve noticed that in every one I act like an employee while my client acts like an employer.
The fault is definetly on my side.
It probably comes from my our first contact, my communication, my presence.
Maybe I’m seeking permission for certain task.
Maybe I let the client make the big decisions (and thus take on the risk).
Maybe I'm choosing the wrong type of clients.
What can I do to stop acting like an employee?
The answer sounds quite simple - do the opposite of the small list above.
Make more decisions?
Set more boundaries?
But do you have any more concret tips on how to be seen 'equal'?
What can I do with existing client relationships, how can I turn them around?
Thank you!
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