In today’s guest post Cindy Hillsey shares her expertise and asks about your coaching business.
Does Your Coaching Business Reflect the YOU of Today?
By Cindy Hillsey
There seems to be a common thread among all my coaching clients right now, and that thread is that their business no longer reflects who they are today! I thought this would be a good topic to discuss today. My question to you is this: Does your business reflect who you are today or does it reflect who you were?
Recognizing how hard it is to keep current in a changing environment my hat is off to you if you said your business reflects who you are as of today! If you are like the majority, however, your business more than likely still reflects the you of the past. How do you know if your business still reflects the old you?
Here are some signs:
1. You have skills that are not listed on your website and your current clients don’t know about these skills.
2. You are being asked by your client to do things that are beyond your skillset and you cringe thinking about doing them.
3. You no longer like/want your current clients (or a majority of them)!
4. You have a static website rather than a dynamic one.
5. Your Welcome Packet hasn’t been updated since you opened your doors for business.
6. Your work seems like work – the thrill is gone!
7. Your clients no longer refer you.
8. You’ve entertained the idea of getting a J-O-B.
If you found yourself nodding your head yes to any or all of the above questions, it’s time for you to spend some quality time working ON your business and giving it a new lift! Put some business bounce back into your business!
Here are some things you can do:
1. Take an honest look at your skillset. See what still works and what you still enjoy doing. Purge the rest.
2. Make a list of new skills you would like to acquire. (Hint: If you find yourself putting the word ‘should’ in front of a new skill, ask yourself this question: Is it because *I* want to learn more information about this particular skill OR is it because I think I *should* know how to do this because everyone is doing/needs this?)
3. Update your Ideal Client profile! (This is also a good exercise as it helps you to determine what skills to keep, what skills to acquire, and what skills to purge.)
4. If you can’t create a new website yourself, put on your CEO hat and find someone who can capture the new you in your new website.
5. Do you still need a Welcome Packet? If so, update it and keep is short, sweet, and simple! Only collect the information you need.
6. You may want to consider hiring a business coach to refresh, refocus, and re-energize both you and your business.
7. If your client no longer refer you, see the above 6 items and begin to work on them now!
8. You really need to hire a business coach to figure out if this is really where you need to be or if you are just feeling dead-ended in your current incarnation.
It is important to continually adjust and tweak your business as the environment changes. If you don’t, you risk becoming out-of-date and obsolete. You’ll be like the food item in the pantry that has an expiration date stamped on the bottom – Best if used by xx-xx date!
About the Author/Further Resources
As a Business Coach, I work with Service-Based Entrepreneurs, and I specialize in working with Virtual Assistants and Coaches. Visit http://virtualpartnering.com for my FREE mini e-course on, The Six Basic Keys Every Business Should Have, along with other free resources.
Connect with me:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VirtualPartnering
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cindyhillsey
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyhillsey