Setting healthy, professional boundaries is a skill that takes time, patience, and testing.
For me, it’s a constant learning process, as each clients is unique. Communication styles, demeanor, personality. This has brought me to the realization that I’m not only solution-maker for graphics/visuals, but also a solution-maker for effectively communicating with clients.
There will be clients that are super fluid, clients that yell, clients that micromanage, clients that praise. There are so many different experiences and all of them beneficial.
How I’ve dealt with difficulties in relation to clients:
Stay calm, breathe, and respond in a neutral manner?
Deplete my ego and think about how to move forward.
Stand up for myself: I know my worth as a designer and person, and no client has the right to be disrespectful. When this happens, I can calmly let them know that, “I am not ok with be spoken to in that manner.” More often than not, the client is receptive, things are calmed, and we move forward.
It is ok to say “no” to a client. Whether it is to a deadline, a timeline, or a simple ask. Learning what I can and can not do/take on is a constant learning process.