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So like most women here, the phrase "block and delete" is now drilled into my brain as it applies to dating. But I'm currently more interested in my career than in dating.
As an expert in my field, I still get disrespectful male clients talking down to me and taking up too much of my time for free, demanding extra work for free, etc. I often wish to apply FDS and drop these clients as soon as I get this type of vibe from them. I also refuse to do any extra work for them and I stick to my guns (learned this the hard way!) I am very good at what I do and so clients are easy to find.
Do you think this is the right approach (block and delete at first sign of real disrespect, but for difficult/rude clients)? I'm not talking about typical human weaknesses here, but specifically about unconscious or conscious sexism on the part of male clients.
If you can, absolutely block and delete and defend your boundaries. My professional version of a "scrotation" would be to avoid "Employer stockholm syndrome" and not be afraid to change employers if you are unhappy or underappreciated. If you loyalty is not regularly rewarded (and I mean in a tangible money-or-other-benefits-way) your employer doesn't deserve it.
For situations where you can't "block and delete" or quit there are two books I frequently recommend to other women trying to get ahead professionally in a world of scrotes (if you haven't read them yet):
1) Dale Carnegie, How to win friends and influence people (esp. the "Be a leader" and "Win people to your way of thinking" parts). Some of his examples are dated because the book is older, but all of his tips still absolutely, 100% work. I use his advice every, single day. This is for handling difficult people you can't avoid or "block and delete". Sometimes a little diplomacy and gentle manipulation is simply needed to get ahead in this world.
2) Gavin de Becker, The Gift of Fear (esp. the chapter on workplace violence) to learn how to spot and recognize warning signs regarding which of your difficult clients, bosses and coworkers are actually dangerous.
You can set your boundaries since they are business clients. Meaning you communicate if this and this happens again, you are fired. And follow up with actions at the first sign again you drop them. I’m not sure how strong your clientele is but learning how to deal with shitty people is important and in the corporate world where I work (I can’t block and delete), so I have to learn how to deal with difficult personalities especially as a leader.
I’ve made some men very angry because I vet my clients. I definitely got there with work before I did dating. One of my favourite memories was an older man explaining why I needed to adjust my offering for him and him being utterly furious when I sympathised with his lack of budget and offered to recommend some more affordable competitors. He demanded to speak to my boss and I replied cooly that I was the only company director. He spluttered, swore at me a few times then hung up. It really warms the cockles even many years later 😁
Yes, you pick and keep clients you want.
That's like contracting 101: don't keep difficult clients thoroughly vet your prospective clients before taking them on.