Negotiations are a Test
It never gets any better than during negotiations. If you have a tough negotiation with a client, it’s not likely going to be all rosy as you deal with your new client moving forward. If the negotiation goes smoothly and easily, you likely will have an easy to deal with client throughout your relationship with them. Let me use another dating analogy – How many couples that fought throughout the time while they were dating had peaceful calm marriages?
Do your best to make the negotiations painless and smooth for your clients, but keep in mind that you are setting the tone for all future interactions with this client. If you give in too often and too easily now, they’ll expect that same attitude of giving on everything moving forward. If you can successfully negotiate through the dating phase of your relationship with your client, you can have a happy long term marriage moving forward.
