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How To Deal With a Gaslighting Client

We all deserve to feel psychologically safe in our workplace

Ali Hall
Really Honest Business
4 min readNov 22, 2024

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Unsplash+ with Mushaboom Studio

The problem with small businesses is that they often subsume into the founder’s identity.

I should know; I’ve been there, both with my own small business, which I allowed to infiltrate my bloodstream, and I’ve worked for other small businesses.

On the one hand, this synonymity between business and founder can infuse passion and flare and showcase exemplary dedication and commitment. It did with me and my old business.

However, the darker side houses a tendency for deflection, defensiveness and an inability to listen.

This article in Forbes talks about a “small business mindset,” which is a mindset filled with “reactive business operations” and an “absence of self-awareness”.

I once found myself stuck doing freelance work for a small business owner with a small business mindset.

Learning my worth in the face of this sort of adversity has helped equip me for future clashes.

Recognise when clients invalidate you

Several years ago, I freelanced for a friend and her small business. I believed in the business and had faith and trust in her. I was excited to be…

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Really Honest Business
Really Honest Business

Published in Really Honest Business

Really Honest Business is a mindset for how humans do business with each other in our hyperconnected, manipulative world. We champion collaboration, mental wellbeing, integrity and authenticity in freelancing and small business.

Ali Hall
Ali Hall

Written by Ali Hall

✍Well-being, feminism, personal growth & life observations. Childfree & owner of Life Without Children & Abnormally Normal. Lover of trail running & dogs.

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