Hey fabulous health professionals,
It is a really sad day for clinicians.
Do you ever stop to wonder why you have clients, patients, or customers who come to you saying:
“Can you please do cheap or free services for us?”
….only to follow up that request with a laundry list of their requirements for expertise and experience, while fully expecting us to negotiate on price?
This still happens to me – it happened to me last week. Me and my team have been sought out for our experience and skills, and yet, I am still faced with discussions about whether there is any flexibility in our fees.
My answer was no. This is what it costs to work with us because this is what we are worth.
Do you feel confident in saying the same to your customers and clients?
It gets worse.
We perpetuate the expectation for discounts, for free, cheap or low costs services, among our own communities. Here in groups in Linked In and Facebook, I see health professionals send requests for clinicians who are expert, skilled and experienced, but, you guessed it, able to provide their services for free, cheap or at low-cost.
Clearly we as therapists and clinicians have a problem here. We expect our peers to be free, cheap, budget-friendly, or discounted. And yet, we have the nerve to get irate when customers come to us and want to negotiate on prices.
We need to start leading by example.
Nothing is going to change about our value in the marketplace until we take a stand.
Nothing is going to change until we, the clinicians and health providers, say: “No – health is your new wealth. It has been for a long time. I have invested heavily in my education, my ongoing personal development, my expertise, my thought leadership and practice development. I’ve paid for supervision and I’ve given countless hours (and years) to my craft. Why would I negotiate on my value or my worth?
So please, fabulous clinicians, stop devaluing each other because you are devaluing yourself in the process.
No one is going to take us seriously if we don’t take ourselves seriously.
Take a stand.
Know your worth.
And here’s to your success.
– Jo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jo Muirhead is a Rehabilitation Counsellor with over 20 years of experience in vocational rehabilitation. Jo is a mentor to allied health professionals who are ready to make freedom, flexibility and fulfilment happen in 2016. Click here to download the free guide: How to Find Freedom in Your Private Practice.
Jo is the creator of the Book of Evidence.
Brilliant, Jo. Thank you. A big reminder, and very timely. We’ve all done it. And it needs to stop!
Thanks so much for stopping by Vanessa. I hope this encourages you to stand up for your worth and your value! Jo x
Thank you for this, Jo–
You are so right that we send a double message sometimes when we quote a fee, and then don’t really stick to it. I am as guilty of this as anyone. And no one has ever thanked me for it In fact, in these situations the clients are often less satisfied than those who are paying the standard fee!
Thank you Deborah – this has been my experience too! Isn’t it funny how people tend to value the things that they are asked to invest in? – Jo
I’m FEELING YOU! I so appreciate your putting this out there as your words resonate with me.. This came at a time when I was actually questioning my fees, but this helped me hold on to what I know to be right- for me..I specifically have seen this recently in several groups and discussions- I thought it was just me who was amazed..
My email is not the same as my website as I’m in final review of the new site! http://newstaceyhorn.brightervisionsites3.com/
Stacey thank you and WOO HOO on being brave enough to hold your ground on your fee. Only you can decide the rate you feel comfortable at; what amount you feel reflects your worth and value as an expert who helps people get their lives back. Your new site is lovely and I LOVE “Shift Happens”! – Jo
Great article and reinforcer to be very mindful about the quota of discounted spots you want to give away (if at all).
Giving discounts can be a cause for resentment (on our end).
Hi Frank and thank you for your thoughts. This is tricky. I would never suggest that it’s wrong for people to operate on a sliding fee scale, or to not keep spots for clients at lower rates or pro bono – this is something I strive to do in my own practice. The issues begin where we feel as though we are obliged to do so, and that we don’t deserve to charge a fee that is more than just the bare minimum we need to scrape by. It’s quite freeing to know that we have a choice, and we can set the limits based on what we value and feel is a true reflection of our worth.
You effing nailed it!
Hello John and THANK YOU!
Truth, Thank you for reminding me that I need to value myself, my experience, my knowledge.When times are tight, it is easy to prostitute myself for so much less
A great article on a frustrating topic! I love your stance on focusing on what we are worth. Thank you so much for giving others the courage to stand in what they know without apology!