The Impact of Underappreciation on Clients and Team Members

By Nicole Hanlin

In any businesswhether youre leading a small team or managing a growing client baseone truth remains constant: people do not stick around where they dont feel valued. It applies to both clients and employees. When someone leaves your business, chances are they feel overlooked, unheard, or disrespected.

If you truly value the people who keep your business runningyour team and your clientsit should be reflected in your actions. It's how you speak to them, how you support them through challenges, and how you celebrate their wins. You dont belittle them. You dont gossip. Instead, you offer public praise and private, constructive feedback. Its about creating a culture of respect, not just a list of rules.

The truth is that if your business has high turnovereither from staff or clientsyou may be the common denominator. Its not an easy pill to swallow, but leadership starts with accountability. When people keep walking away, its time to stop blaming circumstances and start looking in the mirror. Are you creating a space where people feel appreciated and empowered? Or are you part of the problem?

When employees feel undervalued, their behavior shifts. They stop going the extra mile. They clock in, do the bare minimum, and check out. Passion fades, initiative dies, and loyalty disappears. The same employee who once had fire in their belly now treats their job as a chore, not a career.

But when someone feels appreciated? Everything changes. They engage more. They volunteer to help. They stay late without being asked and actively look for ways to improve. Appreciation fuels motivation. Recognition breeds loyalty.

The same goes for clients. The cost of underappreciation can put your reputation on the line. One overlooked client can tell hundreds, if not thousands, through word-of-mouth and online reviews. And lets be honest, bad experiences travel fastfaster than the good ones.

Clients dont expect perfection. They expect respect. If your business messes up (because every business does), own it. Fix it. Go above and beyond to make it right. Clients remember effort. But if you ignore them? Theyll remember that even moreand theyll leave.

As a leader, never assume silence means satisfaction. Just because a client or employee hasnt spoken up doesnt mean theyre content. They may have already decided to quietly walk away. Be proactive. Check in. Train your staff to anticipate needs and handle conflict with grace. Most importantly, foster a culture where appreciation is a daily practicenot an afterthought.

Prioritize appreciation, or your competitors will. Clients and employees alike have choices. Endless ones. Dont assume theyll stay loyal to a business that treats them like a number.

If you want more insights on building a business and team culture rooted in respect, passion, and consistency, read my book: Unlock the Power of Potential. It's your guide to investing in peopleand in long-term success.

Coming soon on Amazon.