Whilst is might be true that there is plenty of freelancing and consulting work available, sometimes you might feel it is necessary to turn a project down. Whether the project isn’t quite what you were looking for or you are looking for something that is longer, or shorter, there can be a number of reasons to not want the work. The key thing is to ensure that you turn it down in the right way so that you don’t offend the client; you don’t want to reduce your chances of being offered further projects in the future. The benefits of project training don’t always mean that this is something you will have touched on in any depth but here are some tips to help you if you find yourself in this position.
Listen to the client
Before you turn down any work, even those projects you are not keen on, listen to the client fully, hear all the details of their project and listen to everything they have to say. It might take a little bit of your time, but it won’t cost you that much, and they may say something that gets you interested in the project after all.
Create a template
If you do a lot of freelancing, then you might find it helpful to spend some time creating some template emails that you can use for some of the things you may need to communicate to clients on a more regular basis. This will allow you to formulate the kind of professional and carefully thought out emails that will help you to communicate effectively with clients, turning them down whilst not putting them off offering you work in the future.
Be polite
Always be polite when turning down a client. Even if you turn them down on a project there is a chance that they will come back to you in the future with another project they would like you to work on, after all there is probably a good reason they chose you in the first place. Also don’t be surprised if they come back to you with another offer on a project you already turned down. Be firm but polite if turning them down if you really don’t want to do it.
Hold your boundaries
The client may not come back to you immediately, they may not come back to you at all, or they may come back in 6 months’ time. If they do you could re-evaluate how you feel about the project but if your answer is still no, then stick to your guns and turn them down again. Being courteous will ensure that the client still has a positive image of you and will consider you in the future which is something you want.
If you are looking for guidance on project management training then why not contact a company who specialise in training, they will be happy to help you.
