Client Feel Quote by Adam M. Grant
““Givers have a protective side. In negotiating with a client, I feel a lot of responsibility for my team, and it makes me more willing to draw a hard line.” Then, she developed a habit of articulating this responsibility to her clients: “When a client makes an unreasonable request, I explain that it’s going to stretch my team, or kill them working crazy hours. The client knows I will bend over backward to do what’s right for them, so when I do push back, it has a lot more impact: there’s a good reason for it.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Harvard Business Review Podcast, 2023
Leaders who protect their teams gain credibility, making firm boundaries more persuasive to clients.
In simple terms: Protecting team boosts influence.
Key Takeaway
Use responsibility to set clear limits.
Themes
leadership
team protection
negotiation
Mood
assertive
empathetic
Type
leadership
advice
When to use this quote
- client meetings
- project planning
- team management
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
psychology
boundary setting
trust building
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance empathy with firmness?
- When is it appropriate to push back?
A Different Perspective
Hard lines may strain relationships if overused.
