“The best salespeople are great listeners—that’s how you find out what the buyer wants.”
(Larry Wilson and Spencer Johnson)
Oct 05 2012
The Last Lesson
The Survivor’s Coach, Marie Yates shares a personal experience and a question in this week’s guest post:
The Last Lesson
by Marie Yates
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” This was a question my Grandma asked me only a couple of weeks ago! I won’t reveal my age but I can assure you I would be considered ‘grown up’ by anybody’s standards. The question was asked by a woman who has always been an incredible role model to me and whilst her memory was fading, she never ceased to amaze me with her strength and courage.
Initially, the question made me laugh. I am grown up. However, it was only then that the enormity of the question struck me. I looked at my Grandma and told her what I wanted to be when I grow up. ‘I want to be a writer’. She looked at me, smiled and said ‘that’s nice, what are you writing?’
Ok, so the list of reasons why I wasn’t actually writing anything at the moment didn’t work on my Grandma. I love what I am doing at the moment. I am blessed to be able to work with people I connect with and I wouldn’t change anything about my life. I would simply add this element to it. That burning desire to write has never gone away, it has just been muted while I have developed other elements of my life. Grandma simply said, ‘make the most of being young as the time goes so quickly’.
Grandma passed away last week and that was her final piece of advice for me.
I would love for you to ask yourself the question ‘what would I like to be when I grown up?’ Smile as you ask yourself and think about the first burst of inspiration that comes to you.
What are you doing about it? How are you making this a reality?
Don’t put it off thinking that there will be time. Make the time now and make this happen.
As for when you will be ‘grown up’… I will leave that for you to consider!
About the author
Marie Yates, ‘The Survivor’s Coach’, is the founder of Indigo Turtle.
Taking the experience of rape and sexual violence and using it to create a catalyst for positive change is something that seemed impossible. Marie has shown that it is not only possible; it is changing the way that survivors see themselves and the way that survivors are seen by others.
Through a variety of ways, Marie looks at what it means to be a ‘survivor’ and then takes it to the next level. Looking to the future and exploring what can be achieved gives a renewed enthusiasm for achieving success as defined by YOU!
Follow Marie on Twitter here.
Aug 04 2012
Coaching Quote of the Day 4th August 2012
May 02 2012
Coaching Quote of the Day 2nd May 2012
Apr 06 2012
Coaching Quote of the Day 6th April 2012
Oct 07 2011
Coaching Quote of the Day 7th October 2011
Jun 27 2011
Coaching Quote of the Day 27th June 2011
“Ask yourself: if I had only sixty seconds on the stage, what would I absolutely have to say to get my message across?”
(Jeff Dewar)
Jun 22 2011
How do you help a client set a goal for the coaching session?
One of the reoccurring questions that I see and hear from those who are beginning to develop their coaching skills is based on the problem of struggling to pin-point a goal for a coaching session.
A common response from more experience coaches can be a variation of “Yes, that’s something I remember experiencing and it’s something that gets easier with practice”. Whilst I agree, it is something that gets easier when you practice, let me also give some pointers for that practice 
Firstly, what expectations does your client have about what happens in a coaching session? If you want them to set the direction of the coaching how did you explain that when you both agreed to work together?
If you find that it is a common theme that all your clients struggle to pin point a goal for the session, you may want to consider what you can do differently during your initial conversation with a potential client? Is there something you can say or do that will increase the chance of a goal being established quickly?
You may also use questions to establish the expectations that your client has before you start coaching either in your initial conversation or if you include questions in your welcome pack.
The wording of these questions can be tailored to best suit your clients but an example could be “How would they know it’s been a great coaching session?” Presumably they would be happy if each session with you is a great coaching session. Having formed an answer to this question it will aid them to set each session goal in-line with these expectations in the future.
If you know what their answer is, it also allows you to discuss their expectations in more detail with them if appropriate.
Many coaches ask their clients to complete a coaching preparation form prior to the actual session. The format and actual questions on a preparation form can vary from coach to coach.
One aspect that a coaching preparation form can have is to ask a question that allows your client to already come prepared with a session “goal.” Already having this established ahead of the session allows you to spend the time focusing upon that goal.
These are just some thoughts about the things that you can add into your practice to assist you in setting a goal for your coaching session. What other methods and approaches can you suggest?
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