My client rejected my proposal: How do I cope? By MRL Trinidad

Here you are, on the brink of your dream assignment. You’ve secured the ideal client for your company and now you’re ready to sign the contract. You know exactly how much time and effort you put into securing this assignment, but there’s no way to express that to the client. So, after all that work, it feels like the world has pulled a fast one on you, when you’re met by radio silence from your potential client. And then there’s your employer who, to you, seems disappointed in your failure, and may even be going out of their way to be covert about it. How do you handle this?

It’s important to remember that success in business is not always a black or white reality. There are many elements at play for an assignment to be completed successfully socially, financially, and ethically. It’s important to remember that not every assignment you take on is going to be a hit, and it’s okay. There are many factors at play in securing an assignment that are beyond your control. The client may not have been happy with how their previous provider handled communication or turned out the work; this could affect how they feel about working with someone new. It could even be a situation, where there are several other decision making parties involved and your proposal just wasn’t acceptable to everyone with vested interest. Or, maybe, the price of doing business with you wasn’t feasible. Whatever the reason was, do not look at the set back as a failure. Moreso, consider it a learning experience that will help you to do better on the next project.

Some things to remember are:

  • It’s not a failure, it’s a setback: If you put in the work and did your due diligence, you didn’t fail. The project just wasn’t for you or your company. Consider the experience you would have gained in the process and the contacts you would have made. This could very well be a stepping stone in the future.
  • If you feel as if your employer is displeased, don’t be afraid to have a conversation about it. Perhaps your superior may be able to advise you as to what you could have done differently or where they feel you went wrong. Constructive criticism isn’t something to fear, but to embrace.
  • Keep the lines of communication open: Business isn’t personal. It involves personal touches, but it’s not about you. Therefore, don’t feel offended by the rejection. Thank the client for the opportunity to present your proposal and move on. They may very well come back to you at a later time.
  • Don’t be so hard on yourself. If you’re an over achiever, rejection can feel like a blow to the stomach. Especially when you’re in a position of need. Things like this happen every day, and it won’t be the last time that a client “ghosts” you or rejects your proposal, that’s just the way things are.
  • Move on: Moving on can be difficult for some people. They prefer to overthink and over process the reasons why something didn’t go their way, while wallowing about it. That is counterproductive. Once you’ve been able to objectively evaluate what you could have done differently (with the help of colleagues, or superiors), move on to something else. Time waits on no one.Contact The Management Resource for recruitment services in Trinidad and Guyana.

About MRL

MRL is a management consulting firm based in Chaguanas, Trinidad that specializes in Industrial Relations, Expatriate Management, Payroll and Tax services, Contract Labour and Recruitment services.

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The Management Resource Ltd
366 Central Avenue,
Lange Park, Chaguanas.
Trinidad West Indies
1-868-231-3507
1-868-774-7089
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