Reality check: not many people know what coaching is. Most people have a broad idea about it but they don’t know how a coach can help them. So if people don’t know what you do and how you can help them how are they going to find you? This doesn’t mean you should give up and go sell insurance door to door. What it means is that there is no point in attempting to sell ‘coaching’ as a service. Attempting to sell something nobody understands or wants will get you nowhere.
What works better is to sell what you can do for your clients. When you market what you do as a solution to your client’s existing problems then you not only serve your client’s best interests, but you also set yourself firmly on the path of popularity and prosperity.
Tips To Offering Solutions To Problems
1. Be a Saviour
Here’s a magic statement that will almost guarantee you success if you say it to your clients: “I can do that for you.” Imagine being on the receiving end of those words when you tell someone a problem that’s been bothering you. It would remove all your stress, free your mind and lift your spirits, wouldn’t it? When you give answers, right wrongs and provide genuine solutions, then you meet your client’s needs.
2. Be a miracle worker
As personal development professionals, we best serve our clients by being miracle workers. That may sound like a tall order but when you have confidence in your niche [link to niche article] then it’s easy to deliver.
It can be easy to become impersonal in your interactions with people online. You can build strong relationships with the highest intention of truly serving your clients by giving them 100% of your commitment to solving their problems. When your clients know that you truly care about their welfare then they place their trust in you.
Take advantage of opportunities for relationship building such as blogs, newsletters and social networks. Give stuff away for free. Take advantage of technology. Then you will both strengthen relationships with your current clients and build relationships with your new clients.
3. Be One Step Ahead At All Times
In order to say those magical six words, “I can do that for you”, we must have the skills and supplies on hand to back up those words. Plan ahead to impress every client and they will reward you with a lifetime of dedication. You will build a truly supportive relationship with them and enjoy all the business and prosperity your client will bring you. It’s a win-win situation and you can’t get any better than that, right?
FURTHER ASSISTANCE
Are you a Life Coach, Business Consultant, Trainer or Therapist who needs web content and/or information products? Maybe you need copy and design on your website, blog or social media pages. Or perhaps you need an ebook, audio/video script or coaching tools created from your notes. Whatever your needs, I can make sure that you (a) connect with prospective clients and (b) provide quality resources for your existing clients. Contact me for quotes, questions and advice:
Email: tracey@howcoachesgrow.com
Skype: tracey_wood1
Phone: +61 7 5439 9883
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January 20th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
I thought this article was really useful about the benefits of offering solutions to problems rather than saying “I’m a Coach” In my experience when I first started out people at Networking events would say “So what exactly is a Parent Coach Sue?” and then decide that it was too airy fairy to understand and as you say glaze over. But when I said “I make parenting easy ….!” I found I began to have a wealth of referrals and interaction with “So how do you do that…” and we were off on a new conversation !
Useful and practcial advice – thanks
Sue Atkins
http://www.positive-parentsclub.com
November 7th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I absolutely 100% agree that it’s about empowerment. The “I can do that for you” approach relates to connecting with new clients. As a one-to-one coach you could use the statement as a means of enabling them to see that you can assist them. For example, a potential client comes to you and says “I hate my job and I can’t see a way out” so you say “No problems. I’ve helped many clients with career dilemmas. I can help you find a way out.” A simple example but see what I mean? You are offering them a solution to their problem. Maybe that wasn’t clear in the post but that’s what i meant… Thanks for your feedback Taru!
November 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I really like your suggestion about offering solutions to problems rather than saying “I’m a Coach” – people really glaze over when coaches start with that phrase.
That said, I personally don’t want to be anyone’s savior, or say “I can do that for you”. Why? because I believe people need to take responsibility for making the changes they desire in their life, with me as their “guide” and they the “explorer”.
I certainly have tools to assist them in their journey (that’s what I trained for), and I absolutely love helping them find their own inner resources and create significant and lasting change. I really can’t do it for them.
I usually say something like “now that you’re aware of what you want, I can help you get it”. Or, “what will it be like for you when you have achieved your goal? I stop while they imagine it and then say, “I can help you reach it”.
And, I agree that the most critical component of the coach-client relationship is trust.
Great blog post – it made me think about how I best engage a potential client.