My sister's way with tough talks made me see client consults differently

A client wanted a cut that would irritate his scalp, so I had to be straight with him. It was awkward, but he thanked me later for looking out for him.

3 comments

3 Comments

robert5823d ago

My old boss Steve was like that with customers who wanted bad kitchen layouts. Felt harsh in the moment but they always came back grateful. How do you find the right words for that stuff without sounding rude?

ellis.leo3d ago

Reminds me of the contractors who have to explain why you can't put a shower where the main sewer line runs, @robert582. Had a client once dead set on moving a toilet six feet, not grasping the slab concrete underneath. You end up saying things like "the physics of water drainage won't allow that" which sounds blunt, but listing the real world problems, like constant clogs, makes it a safety talk. They grumble but usually see the point when you sketch the pipe slope needed. It's less about the words and more about making the hidden issue visible.

elliot_patel3d ago

My barber told me once the key isn't just showing the pipe slope, like Ellis.leo said. It's about showing you're on their side first. I mean, if a client feels judged for wanting something dumb, they dig in. But if you lead with "I get why you'd want that, but here's what will happen to your hair/scalp/kitchen," it changes the whole talk. It stops being a lecture and becomes you solving a problem together. The words matter less than making sure they know you're the expert trying to help, not just shutting them down.