Navigating Client Self-Sabotage: Part 1 – Recognizing the Pattern
As you begin implementing new methods and tools, you’ll naturally start identifying opportunities for improvement around you. You’ll find some receptive to your ideas, while others resist change.
However, a particularly challenging situation arises when clients actively seek your help, acknowledging your potential, yet seem to sabotage their own progress when you offer solutions.
This is a common, and often frustrating, phenomenon, and it’s the focus of our new series exploring the realities of client interactions.
Have you ever experienced a client who sought your expertise only to resist or abandon the very changes they needed?
For our upcoming discussions, I invite you to share your experiences with client self-sabotage. If you’re willing to contribute your story (anonymously, if preferred), please email me at stories@staceyvail.com.
Understanding these real-world scenarios will help our community recognize they’re not alone and learn effective strategies for navigating these challenging situations.
Stay tuned for the next installment, where we’ll begin to explore potential reasons behind this behavior. We may even sprinkle in some lighthearted video snippets down the line to share some of the more (in hindsight!) comical reactions. Let’s learn together!
This article appeared in the April 15, 2025 issue of Unscripted Strategy. Subscribe for weekly insights – newsletter delivered on Tuesdays:
