Do Something! Review your client list - is it time to weed out some clients?

Do you have some some clients that you would rather not work with? Do you cringe when you know a particular client is on the telephone or wants to schedule a meeting with you? Do you have clients that consistently fail to see the value of the work that you do? Are some of your clients uncooperative? Do you have clients that fail to pay their bills on time? Do some of your clients question everything you’re doing? Do you have clients that are disrespectful to your or your staff? Do you avoid some clients because their work is boring or outside of your comfort zone?

If you've answered yes to any of the above, it may be time for you to fire a client or two.

By now, you've probably heard of the 80/20 rule. Twenty percent of your clients will cause 80% of your problems. And 80% of your revenue will be generated by only 20% of your clients. Consider firing your 'nightmare' clients, clients that don't pay on time, or clients that aren't the proper 'fit' for your practice - your practice will benefit, and so will you.

While the idea of firing clients might be a scary one, allowing bad clients to pull your focus from your highest value clients can be even more detrimental to your practice. Bad clients drive out good clients. They steal your energy, make it difficult to concentrate on your good clients, sabotage your productivity, prevent you from seeking additional work from your best clients and increase anxiety and stress. They usually cost you more money, time, and mental energy than you can ever make on their engagement.

Take spring cleaning to a whole new level this year and fire your worst clients.

Having trouble identifying your best and worst clients? Contact me to find out how I can help.

Comments

[Ben Glass]

Allison:

Most lawyers are afraid to "tell it like it is" at the beginning of the relationship. Let the client really know the "terms of engagement" before you accept them. What are the rules for contacting you? For prompt payment?

Lawyers are also too timid about "firing" bad clients. Look, you shouldn't be letting "C" and "D" clients in the door in the first place, but if they do sneak in and start messing up your life--Fire them!

Life it way too short do deal with "C" and "D" clients.

Have some integrity with yourself.

And, don't buy into what's taught by older lawyers to younger lawyers, that you "have to take everyone else's bad clients" to build your name and practice.

Pure baloney.