How To Reduce Stress When You Have Too Many Design Project Requests

Do you feel like you’re riding the wave of unprecedented levels of business, or are you waving your arm in the international signal for “send help”?

Design professionals are experiencing a tsunami of projects and clients.

 

Remember when it used to be really exciting to have an influx of new projects and clients? When it meant your business was growing because of your solid service and reputation?

And you knew that you would have to temporarily increase workload for yourself and your staff?

 

But now you realize there’s no end in sight and you feel like the tsunami might just wash you and your business away…

I recently joined my dear friend and business coach LuAnn Nigara of A Well-Designed Business® podcast to discuss how crazy projects and business levels have been for interior designers and window treatment professionals.

 

We shared a few strategies and mindset adjustments that you and your team can make to ensure you don’t experience burnout.

Here, I’ll share a few key takeaways that you can put into practice immediately.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Plan accordingly.

The first thing you can do is come to grips with the fact that this situation is not short term.

We expect this high level of business to continue at least the next 6 months, if not 12 months, before leveling out.

 

You and your staff cannot continue at a sprint pace (working late nights, working all weekends, no time for personal life & family) long-term – it just isn’t sustainable.

Determine your capacity and what you and your staff can realistically maintain long-term and set your schedule according to that plan.

If you’re not willing to work all nights and weekends (and why would you be?) don’t quote projects as thought you will be. Which leads me to another important point…

Be upfront and realistic about your lead times.

You know what is on your table and how long it takes you to fabricate it. You know there are product back orders and shipping delays. You know how many projects you already have in your pipeline.

Don’t tell your clients that you can meet a 4-6 week lead time when you know that you are currently at an 8-10 week lead time.

Don’t be worried about upsetting your clients with this information.

For one thing, just about everyone in the design industry understands extended lead times, and consumers will encounter long lead times just about everywhere they go too (hellooo, 6+ months for furniture and appliances!).

If they can’t work within a timeline that you can realistically deliver, they will go somewhere else…and there will be more clients lined up after them. Not every client is the right client for you.

 

Sometimes it’s all in how you deliver the information that can make a difference.

Remind your customer that your quality product and design will bring them years of enjoyment and is well worth the wait.

Communication, communication, and more communication!

 

Provide that top-tier, VIP level of service and support by updating your clients every step of the way on how the project is progressing.

If there’s a delay, contact them. If an order arrived with a missing part, contact them. If you need to reschedule an install, contact them.

 

Good news or bad news, they need to hear it, and they need to hear it immediately.

 

Being proactive in communicating with your client means everyone is always on the same page and has the same information and expectations.

Listen to the latest Window Treatment Friday podcast episode for more tips and insight!

Do you have any strategies that have helped you navigate this post-covid era?

I’d love to hear them – send me an email at vita@vitaliainc.com.