Entrepreneurs are notoriously bad about putting their clients’ needs ahead of their own. Wanting to please people can seem like a good thing on the surface. Service providers, including creative service providers, want their clients to be happy. There’s a difference between providing a great client experience and people pleasing, though. Setting healthy boundaries is the key.

These tips will help you set healthy boundaries so you and your creative business can thrive.

Learn the art of substitution.

One area creative business owner’s struggle to set healthy boundaries is when clients ask for something that makes them uncomfortable. Maybe a client wants you to do extra work for no additional fee or to throw in extra products without changing the package price. They might ask you to create or edit more items than are outlined in your contract or edit in a style that doesn’t align with your work. Working with people means something will come up eventually that will require you to push back.

Instead of giving clients a flat no, counter with a suggestion that feels doable for you. You’re showing the client that you hear them and want to give them the experience they’re asking for in a way that doesn’t cross your own limits. You might be surprised at how receptive most clients are to these conversations. When they feel heard, they’re more likely to be flexible.

Center respect over pleasing people.

If you’re a chronic people pleaser, here’s something you need to understand: People who say “yes” to everything often aren’t the most respected people. If you fail to set healthy boundaries, you aren’t going to win awards or even become more likable. You’re just going to attract people who will take advantage of your lack of boundaries.

Switch the focus from pleasing your clients to cultivating a relationship based in respect. As a creative service provider or business owner, you have to honor people’s boundaries all the time. It’s totally reasonable for you to ask for the same consideration. The right clients will value that.

Practice self-discipline.

Setting healthy boundaries takes a level of discipline that many people need to practice. Implementing more self-discipline in your daily life can make it easier for you to speak up when you need to in your business. When you’re practicing discipline, you’re actively choosing the harder route for the higher reward. If you do this consistently with yourself, you’ll have an easier time in difficult conversations with others.

To that end, you can practice difficult conversations too! You don’t want to sound scripted when you talk to clients, but it can help calm your nerves to think through different scenarios ahead of time. Remind yourself why your boundaries are important too.

When you’re a creative business owner, your business can feel really personal. That’s all the more reason to set healthy boundaries. Instead of trying to please everyone, focus on respecting yourself and doing what you need to take care of yourself. It can be scary at first, but the clients you want to work with will be receptive.

Running a creative business requires a lot of skills, but you can make a great living doing it. Check out the trainings I have available to help you grow your business here!

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