To effectively maintain a healthy balance between your work and private lives, you need to set some professional boundaries. When clients start violating said boundaries, you need to make sure you’re communicating your concerns with them in a clear, concise, and fair manner.
Not having boundaries or lines between you and your animation clients can make life incredibly stressful and create or amplify issues with strain and anxiety. Make sure you’re maintaining healthy relationships with your animation clients.
Here are some of the best practices for creating and maintaining healthy boundaries with your animation client:
1. Communicate your boundaries with yourself
Realize your values and place them first, always. If you're not working for your best interests, then you may lead yourself towards mental and physical strain.
2. Communicate your boundaries with your animation client
Plan a way to communicate a response to overstepped boundaries that is fair and concise; you don't want to scare your client away but you also need them to understand the mutual agreement you've come to.
3. Consider the terms and conditions of your boundaries
Legally binding contracts may seem at times unnecessary or even scary but they can be foolproof ways of ensuring that both you and your clients follow the rules you've created for yourself.
4. Be willing to say "No"
Saying no is difficult but necessary. One of the most professional things you can do is say no when you need to. Your boundaries don't mean anything if you're not willing to stand by them.
5. Be consistent with your boundaries
Some clients may be special cases and may require some special treatment, but remember that not everyone is special. Create habits for dealing with your clients and the process will become much easier to relax back into if you need to break the mold.
6. Never feel bad about your boundaries
Remember, you're creating a safety net for yourself. You need to consider the effect that crossing these boundaries will have on you and your health and your relationships.
Want to Learn How to Get More Animation Clients? Sign up for our FREE Masterclass!
