--- title: "No Such Thing as a Difficult Client: 5 Quick Tips" description: "by Dawn Francis and Sherry Engel Establish common ground. What business-relevant goals do you and your client have in common? Start by acknowledging" --- [![](https://blog.performdev.com/hs-fs/file-387051371-png/images/logo-1.png)](http://www.performdev.com//) # Blog ## [No Such Thing as a Difficult Client: 5 Quick Tips](https://blog.performdev.com/blog/bid/287196/No-Such-Thing-as-a-Difficult-Client-5-Quick-Tips) Posted by [Rich Mesch](https://blog.performdev.com/author/rich-mesch) on Jan 31, 2010 7:01:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ******[![](http://pdginnovates.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/angry_donald_duck_2.jpg?w=293 "angry_donald_duck_2")](http://pdginnovates.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/angry_donald_duck_2.jpg)** 1. **Establish common ground.** What business-relevant goals do you and your client have in common? Start by acknowledging a shared interest. 2. **Focus on results, not emotion.** What are the action steps necessary to accomplish the business and performance results that both you and client can agree upon? Rather than becoming angry or exasperated, simply think about the end result and how to accomplish it. Then, you won’t have time for emotions. 3. **Influence through reciprocity.** What might this client want that you can provide? Reciprocity helps you to influence your clients. If they, for example, afford you the time to conduct a thorough needs analysis, you could reciprocate by providing them with the statistics that help them sell their ideas more effectively to their manager. 4. **Inquire and Listen.**  Never put words in another person’s mouth.  Ask their thoughts.  Listen to their concerns. 5. **Attune and Facilitate.**  Step into the other persons shoes and imagine what it may be like to be in their position.  After you “see from their eyes”, facilitate a problem-solving discussion.  State your understanding of the other’s concerns and move towards a resolution. Topics: [Series](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/series), [Performance Improvement](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/performance-improvement), [Client Management](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/client-management) ### Subscribe via E-mail ### Learn More [![Training the World, Using Archetypes to Create a Practical Global Learning Strategy](https://blog.performdev.com/hs-fs/hub/218299/file-358797837.png) ](http://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/cs/c/?&cta_guid=0cabe23f-e7ea-4020-a198-11968c831b68&placement_guid=4c2f0fb4-9dd8-4120-aacc-83a009df375d&portal_id=218299&redirect_url=bBflNZ6KpYUSLaxc7e4aT6OTOnBR6a91PM1Ksf8%2ByU8QGcxmQ1z7yHb2U8BYYQ2g9I0ioDL%2BURdS3U9bPs6ZtnP%2BDQg4yC8TU59MVOEoGqvUtnNziJ/eTuTGgMou10ru&iv=BT40CgTgk%2B8%3D&hsutk=ac9460655b8a7ff7c5651977fa5b1751&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.performdev.com%2Fblog&canon=) ### Latest Posts ### Posts by category - [ADDIE (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/addie) - [Agility (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/agility) - [Benchmarking (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/benchmarking) - [Business Issues in Learning (5)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/business-issues-in-learning) - [Change Management (9)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/change-management) - [Client Focus (3)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/client-focus) - [Client Management (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/client-management) - [Coaching (3)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/coaching) - [Cognition (7)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/cognition) - [Conferences (3)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/conferences) - [Consulting (5)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/consulting) - [Corporate Integrity Agreement (2)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/corporate-integrity-agreement) - [Design (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/design) - [Emerging Technologies (31)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/emerging-technologies) - [Evaluation (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/evaluation) - [Flexible Resource Management (4)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/flexible-resource-management) - [Gamification (6)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/gamification) - [General (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/general) - [Global Learning (5)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/global-learning) - [Graphic Novels (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/graphic-novels) - [High Performing Learning Organization (3)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/high-performing-learning-organization) - [Informal Learning (7)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/informal-learning) - [Innovation Strategy (3)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/innovation-strategy) - [Interference (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/interference) - [Leadership (6)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/leadership) - [Learning Agility (3)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/learning-agility) - [Learning Demand Planning (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/learning-demand-planning) - [Learning in 3D (5)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/learning-in-3d) - [Learning Resourcing, (2)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/learning-resourcing) - [Learning Theory (24)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/learning-theory) - [Life Sciences (5)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/life-sciences) - [Measurement (2)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/measurement) - [Metacognition (2)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/metacognition) - [Millennials (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/millennials) - [Mobile Performance (5)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/mobile-performance) - [Onboarding (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/onboarding) - [Organizational Change (11)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/organizational-change) - [Organizational Learning (11)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/organizational-learning) - [Performance Improvement (58)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/performance-improvement) - [Product Launch (4)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/product-launch) - [Retroactive Interference (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/retroactive-interference) - [ROI (3)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/roi) - [Sales Training (6)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/sales-training) - [Scrum (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/scrum) - [Series (42)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/series) - [Simulation (12)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/simulation) - [Social Media (5)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/social-media) - [Stakeholder Management (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/stakeholder-management) - [Storytelling (7)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/storytelling) - [Talent Management (4)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/talent-management) - [Transformative Learning (4)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/transformative-learning) - [Virtual Worlds (17)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/virtual-worlds) - [Workforce Development (1)](https://blog.performdev.com/topic/workforce-development) ### Follow Me ### Learn More [![Strategy: Leveraging Learning to Change Culture and Drive Growth](https://blog.performdev.com/hs-fs/hub/218299/file-338495637.png) ](http://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/cs/c/?&cta_guid=7731f088-5ea4-47ef-9e5b-bd99bb24974b&placement_guid=0551a033-4f83-4874-89d4-46d1284dc355&portal_id=218299&redirect_url=Fv72fEaGiy86UcgEX7RZrw/Nvjj%2BD/4xvch9lK4UlUU7RJIU%2BKODMZNJgb7jjqb6LaI4vYMGHfFmJOmHF8ln%2BcWTE%2BZ/KR0hqAtwO7L%2BcB42yjX/p%2B07aiwCs826bzDx&iv=pziBy35B8JU%3D&hsutk=ac9460655b8a7ff7c5651977fa5b1751&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.performdev.com%2Fblog&canon=) [HOME](http://www.performdev.com/)[INDUSTRIES SERVED](http://www.performdev.com/industries-served/)[BUSINESS ISSUES](http://www.performdev.com/business-issues/)[OUR CAPABILITIES](http://www.performdev.com/our-capabilities/)[OUR CLIENTS](http://www.performdev.com/clients/)[RESOURCES](http://www.performdev.com/resources/)[ABOUT PDG](http://www.performdev.com/about-pdg/) [BLOG](https://blog.performdev.com)[CAREERS](http://www.performdev.com/careers/)[CONTACTS US](http://www.performdev.com/contact-us/)[SITE MAP](http://www.performdev.com/site-map/)[PRIVACY POLICY](http://www.performdev.com/privacy-policy/) 301 Lindenwood Drive Suite 100 Malvern, PA 19355 Phone: 610.854.4400 Fax: 866.280.3646 Inquiries:[info@performdev.com](mailto:info@performdev.com) Sales:[sales@performdev.com](mailto:sales@performdev.com) © 2015 Performance Development Group