Friendly Firing

About This Class

In the world of business, maintaining a healthy and productive relationship with clients is paramount. However, there may come a time when firing a client becomes necessary for various reasons, such as misalignment of values, unmet expectations, or unsustainable working dynamics. While this situation is never easy, it is crucial to handle it with professionalism, empathy, and grace.

This mini-course is designed to equip professionals with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate the delicate process of terminating a client relationship in a respectful and compassionate manner. Students will learn effective techniques for identifying warning signs that signal the need for client termination, and how to approach the situation proactively to mitigate potential issues.

NOTE: This is designed to be a soft-skills development course, drawing on our personal experiences in over 15 years of client management. The sweet sauce is the PDF with sample emails that you can use to jumpstart your own firing/conflict management emails (or even as “scripts” for difficult in-person discussions).

Students will learn:

• How to Recognize Red Flags:

  Recognize the red flags indicating when a client relationship may need to be terminated.
  Learn how to objectively assess the impact of the client on your business and overall well-being.

• How to Create an Exit Plan:

  Design an exit plan that minimizes disruption for the client and allows for a smooth transition.
  Identify ways to fulfill any remaining obligations or commitments to the client.

• How to Deliver the Hard News:

  Develop effective communication strategies for delivering difficult news to clients.
  Learn how to frame the conversation positively while expressing reasons for termination honestly.

• The Importance of Learning From the Experience:

  Reflect on the reasons for termination and assess how to avoid similar situations in the future.
  Develop strategies to strengthen client selection and onboarding processes.

Make sure to download the PDF (linked in the last lesson) with 5 email templates – plus a BONUS section of email templates for if you ever find yourself fired BY a client.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the course materials?

You can view and review the lecture materials indefinitely, like an on-demand channel.

Can I take my courses with me wherever I go?

Definitely! If you have an internet connection, courses on Udemy are available on any device at any time. If you don’t have an internet connection, some instructors also let their students download course lectures. That’s up to the instructor though, so make sure you get on their good side!