All designers have had some difficult clients and it can be challenging to get to the final product and sometimes even worse not getting to anything. You sometimes find yourself trying to figure out what a person wants but ultimately discover, they do not know what they want. Here are 4 ways that I have found helpful with dealing with difficult clients: 

1. Know your terms upfront and get agreeance
   You will not only want to agree on the rate/cost but on the other elements like timing, approval process, meetings, and any other factors that can make a difficult client even more challenging. Knowing and agreeing will help you to have something to point to and leave no questions. Allowing to hopefully cut down the difficulty. I once worked with a client that ultimately could not agree on a design but because of the agreeance upfront, I was paid for my time and was disappointed but was paid for my time. As time is our most precious resource.

2. Ask questions and get feedback often
Asking questions is an important way for you to reference as you design to explain choices and show that you are giving the client what they are asking for. Also just makes for a smoother process as you are tracking your decisions and making them involved. It is important that you check in and ask for review/feedback as you are in the process to make sure you are going down the right track. It is easier to change directions when you have not gotten too far in versus having to do a 180 when you are already 90% there.

3. Understand the pattern and be flexible.
Unique behaviors and personalities come out people when they are requesting creative work. You cannot predict what that will mean for you but part of this understanding is doing some homework on the requestor. See if you know others that have worked for them and see what you can gather to prepare yourself.  For difficult clients these behaviors and personalities will probably make things more challenging. It is important that being flexible through this pattern will help you navigate through these patterns.

4. With every difficult experience comes growth. The toughest experiences no matter the outcome will help you gain important experience. Even if it is failure or frustration you can use the experience for future clients. Help make things easier the next time get yourself away from a difficult situation. You may even at the time feel like it was a waste but maybe your idea can be used for something else or it opened you to a new market that you can explore for other freelance work.