Dealing with clients who exceed session times. Are you ready to assert your boundaries?
When clients push past their allotted session times, tactful boundary-setting is key. To address this without souring the relationship:
- Clearly communicate session limits upfront and include them in written agreements.
- Introduce a polite reminder system as the end of the session approaches.
- Implement a fee structure for additional time to deter overruns and compensate your time.
How do you handle overextended appointments? Share strategies that work for you.
Dealing with clients who exceed session times. Are you ready to assert your boundaries?
When clients push past their allotted session times, tactful boundary-setting is key. To address this without souring the relationship:
- Clearly communicate session limits upfront and include them in written agreements.
- Introduce a polite reminder system as the end of the session approaches.
- Implement a fee structure for additional time to deter overruns and compensate your time.
How do you handle overextended appointments? Share strategies that work for you.
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Setting boundaries with clients is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Communicate expectations: Clearly outline session durations and potential consequences of overrunning. Time management techniques: Use visual cues or timers to signal the end of the session. Gentle reminders: Politely remind the client of the time constraint. Prioritize tasks: Focus on the most important agenda items within the allotted time. Post-session follow-up: Address any remaining concerns or questions in a separate communication. By effectively setting and enforcing boundaries, you can maintain productivity, reduce stress, and provide high-quality service to all your clients.
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Dealing with clients who stretch session time is challenging but I have a two-step strategy that really works; 1. Set the tone early at the start, politely remind them of the session timing. Something like, “We have an hour today, so let’s make the most of it!” keeps it clear without sounding strict. 2.Wrap it up gracefully, when the time’s nearly up, signal it gently: “We’re almost at time—let’s quickly wrap up your key takeaways!” This keeps boundaries intact while showing you value their growth.
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Clients exceeding session times can drain your energy and blur professionalism. Setting boundaries is key—for you and them. Here’s how: 1️⃣ Anchor Agreements: Set clear expectations upfront: “Each session is 60 minutes to honor both our time.” Gently remind clients as time winds down: “We’re at 55 minutes—let’s prioritize next steps.” 2️⃣ Use Cues: A visible timer or phrases like, “We’re nearing the end—what’s most important to wrap up?” keep sessions focused. 3️⃣ Model Growth: Reframe boundary-setting as self-respect: “To keep us productive, let’s aim to end on time moving forward.” When you protect your time, you empower your clients to do the same.
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As the coach, it’s YOUR responsibility to manage the time. I work exclusively with neurodivergent people who often struggle with time, and being neurodivergent myself- I completely get it because I struggle too! Here’s things that help me: -have a clear visual of the time throughout the session so you don’t forget to track it -be considerate about what stage the session is. Try not to get too deep into something towards the end of the session -schedule grace/buffer periods for yourself -accept that this may happen on occasion, but ultimately it’s your responsibility to navigate -get curious around what causes the push. In my experience it’s never been purposeful, so collaborate on ways to maintain the time boundary that suit both
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Asserting your boundaries is key to maintaining balance and professionalism. If the conversation is valuable and you'd like to help, offer an option for extending the session, but make sure you explain that extra time will be billed accordingly. If a client insists on going over time regularly, it's important to have a firm but polite conversation about the importance of respecting your time and how it affects your ability to serve others. You can say, "I value our sessions and want to give you my full attention, but I also need to respect my schedule. Let's stick to the agreed-upon times moving forward." Setting these boundaries ensures both you and your client get the most out of your time together without feeling overwhelmed.
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Over the years, I’ve realized that setting boundaries around session time is as much about respect as it is about maintaining focus. When a session is nearing its end, I say something like, “We’re coming close to the end of our time today—let’s prioritize what feels most important for you to wrap up.” This keeps the session meaningful while naturally reinforcing time limits. I also find that setting expectations upfront makes a big difference. A simple note like, “Our sessions are designed to fit within the time allotted to ensure they’re impactful. If we ever need extra time, we can plan for it together,” helps create mutual understanding.
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Dealing with clients who stretch session time is challenging but I have a two-step strategy that really works; 1. Set the tone early at the start, politely remind them of the session timing. Something like, “We have an hour today, so let’s make the most
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One of the things the drives me nuts about modern medicine is that the doctor might as well be looking at their watch while they are supposed to be "treating you". Billing often trumps care, and that's not a place you really want to be as a coach. Setting back to back to back meetings is unrealistic and unsustainable. You need some buffer between meetings. The occasional back to back are fine, but sometimes you need some more time and sometimes the client does. Obviously you don't want to have the same person going over, but giving yourself a buffer gives you the extra time for whoever needs it.
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Use Gentle Reminders During Sessions Time Check: As the session nears its end, signal the time gently: "We have about 15 minutes left; let's wrap up with action steps." Be Direct When Needed: If a client continues to overrun, say something like: "I want to respect both your time and mine. Let’s conclude here and pick up where we left off next time."
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Absolutely, it's important to set and maintain boundaries. I'll politely remind them of the session time and gently redirect the conversation. If needed, I'll schedule a follow-up session to address any additional concerns. By setting clear boundaries, I can ensure that I'm able to provide quality service to all my clients.
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