How To Beat Fear in Facing Clients
Doing something you are afraid of gives you the confidence to keep going, and improve that skill. If it feels hard for you, face your fears and meet the challenge head on. Conquering one’s fears builds character and confidence and opens doors that were previously closed.
It’s human instinct to avoid scary feelings, yet you can’t hide permanently from fear. No matter how hard you try to keep it at bay, it will eventually strike. Fear and anxiety become an issue when they’re chronic. When it comes to generating deals and convincing clients, fear is the biggest obstacle you’ll face as a freelancer.
If you want to become a freelancer, you’ll need to learn to scale or break through those limits. So, how do you beat fear?
1. Get to know your fear. Overcome through understanding.
Accept the fact that you, like everyone else, will have concerns about some facet of your career. Because of this, it’s important to do self-checks and pay attention to any fearful thoughts that may be running through your mind. Be honest with yourself: Is your fear of your client the result of a previous negative professional or personal experience? What does this individual even have to do with it? If none, then you know there’s nothing to worry about and you should stop overthinking!
2. Be prepared before meeting a client
As a freelancer, it’s important to research the client’s industry to ensure that your ideas align with their goals before you go into a conversation with them. You must ensure that you have given the matter a deep review from every viewpoint so that whatever questions they may have, you will have the best possible answers to reply.
3. Practice mindful breathing
Breathing is crucial. Shallow breathing is a common symptom of fear. Breathing rapidly increases your heart rate and blood pressure, which triggers a cascade of physiological responses that end in an emotional breakdown. Taking charge of your breathing is the key to calming down those sudden panic attacks, so if ever you feel afraid but can’t escape a meeting, just breathe slowly.
