clients

5 Ways To Get Your Clients To Breakthrough When They’re Well and Truly Stuck

 in Guest Post  tagged breakthrough / clients / coaching / Lottie Moore / physical metaphors / stuck

In today’s guest post coach and mentor Lottie Moore shares some of her practical experience and knowledge:

5 Ways To Get Your Clients To Breakthrough When They’re Well and Truly Stuck

By Lottie Moore

"5 Ways To Get Your Clients To Breakthrough When They’re Well and Truly Stuck" by Lottie Moore

At some point in our coaching careers we all come across the clients who are ‘stuck’, who, despite our best efforts, are unable to move forwards with their plans, dreams, or ambitions.

As coaches this can be a frustrating process.  As an outside pair of eyes, we can often see, or at least guess at, what the issue is that is holding the client back.  Quite often it can feel that there is an elephant in the room with us, glaringly obvious, and yet unmentioned by our client despite all our best lines of questioning and cajoling.

Sometimes even when the client recognises what it is that is holding them back from achieving their goals, they are unable to break out of the old, destructive patterns of behaviour.  You may sit in sessions with them where it seems likely that they are going to breakthrough what is holding them back, only to see them in a fortnights time to realise nothing has changed.

So how do we help these clients?  How can we facilitate them moving forward when they appear to be well and truly stuck?  Here are my top 5 tips to creating breakthrough when it’s needed most

1. Drop the F-bomb – sometimes your client may just require some serious reinforcement to realise how important this issue is. A carefully placed f@@k, or equivalent bad language, can bring it home with a bang how pivotal you think this issue is.

2. Use Physical Metaphors – creating great confidence and self-belief in one area can hugely assist your client to live that out in other areas of their lives. Activities like glass walking, or arrow breaking with the throat can have a deeply impactful effect on all areas of life, and learning the skills to use these activities in your daily work is easier than you think.

3. Look Back To Move Forward – you don’t need to be an expert in timeline therapy to assist you client to look back on their past experiences to find out where the initial cause of the limiting belief sits. By uncovering what lies at the root of the problem, they can then start to take steps to move away from past learnings that are holding them back.

4. Create Anchors – although physical metaphors are great for this, they are not the only way to enable your client to use this powerful NLP technique. Get them to think back on a time were they were hugely successful and happy, then assist them to create a physical anchor such as a simple hand movement.  When they are struggling with what is holding them back, they can then use this anchor to root them in success and positivity.

5. Be Kind – Life can always seem easier to an external set of eyes, but it’s important to remember that we all have our own shiz to deal with. Don’t let yourself get frustrated or disappointed if it’s taking your client longer than you would have hoped to reach that moment of breakthrough.  Sometimes all anyone needs is patience, understanding, and encouragement, so keep being that positive influence in your client’s life, and reminding them of what they are capable of when they set their minds to it.

Clients that take a long time to reach a point of breakthrough can rock our confidence in our coaching ability, but also can be hugely rewarding when they finally get there.  I hope these 5 tips will be of use to you next time a client that is well and truly stuck comes through your door.

About Lottie Moore

Lottie MooreLottie is a multi-award winning coach and mentor who lives life outside of the comfort zone.  Best known for her firewalking, and physical metaphors training, Lottie is passionate about creating change for the individuals and groups that she works, encouraging them to look beyond their limitations and shine

 

Lottie loves to connect and can be found at: breakthrough to personal power

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3 Mistakes Coaches Make When Designing Their Signature Programs

 in Guest Post  tagged clients / coaching / coaching business / Ling Wong / signature program

Many coaches will have started 2016 with a goal of designing (or redesigning) their own signature coaching program. In this week’s guest post Ling Wong shares:

3 Mistakes Coaches Make When Designing Their Signature Programs

By Ling Wong

"3 Mistakes Coaches Make When Designing Their Signature Programs" By Ling Wong

You have brain full of knowledge. You have a life full of experience. You have a toolbox full of training and expertise.

Yet, you are stumped when answering “what you do and how you do it” question.

Your confidence goes down the drain when you fumble and babble about your coaching program because you have an offer that doesn’t resonate with your value, conviction and superpowers.

If you’ve been struggling to design your signature program, you may be making these mistakes:

1. Using Generic, “Off the Shelf” Program

Many coach-training programs provide students with a 3- or 6-month program they can use right away to get clients.

Or you might have purchased some other pre-written programs that claim to solve all your pain and suffering.

It may work for a little while to help you get your feet wet, but often times regurgitation is not a long-term solution.

When you take an “off the shelf” program, stick it into your business and call it a day, you are stuffing yourself into a box made by others.

These programs are generic. The flip side of “yeah I can probably sell this to anyone” is that they make you sound like everyone else.

They often don’t give you the space to express your value, conviction and opinion. And there is little opportunity for individual expression of your superpowers.

It’s one thing to use these programs as a stopgap move to get things going, but another to be married to it and treat it as a be-all-end-all solution.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but you gotta be in the driver’s seat before the wheel can take you anywhere.

2. YOU are not in the program

I’ve worked with many go-getter clients. They take action. They follow directions they’ve learned in trainings and programs. They do the work. They didn’t write one program, they wrote three.

But still, nothing clicked.

Their motivation died when they realized the program they spent so much time and effort to develop didn’t resonate with them.

The reason? They’ve forgotten about the most important thing – themselves! They neglected the WHY that drives the program.

Most people focus on the “what” and the “how” of a program: the information, modality, delivery and execution.

They jump hastily into busywork before they uncover what really, truly motivates them.

They were missing the driving force that goes beyond a target market, a set of tools, or a topic of expertise.

Jumping both feet into the nitty-gritty has caused them to bypass the foundation – the PERSON behind the program.

The PERSON who puts her name and reputation on the program. The PERSON delivering the program. The PERSON who has to live and breathe that program. (YOU!)

The most successful program stems from a set of core value and conviction that transcends modality, delivery format and pieces of information.

There is a golden thread behind the content that ties everything together and give it a unique positioning that makes the “same information” different.

It embodies your WHY so you can stand by it with the utmost conviction.

It takes into account your superpowers so you can deliver it in the most effective way possible.

3. It’s an Exercise in Navel-Gazing

On the other hand, your signature system is not all about you.

You can’t be of service if you’re not relevant to the people you serve.

I’ve seen many practitioners who make their signature programs all about them, their skills, modality and whatever tools du jour.

The disconnect happens when a program becomes a list of stuff you do, and you fail to relate it to your niche.

Niche is how you anchor yourself in the community you serve. It’s not a bunch of demographic data. It’s about being relevant.

You’re going to hear crickets when your signature program fails to connect your skills, expertise and tools with the needs of those you’re marketing to.

When you can articular why you’re relevant to the people that matter to you (your market), you’ll feel excited about what you do.

 When you can articulate how your expertise applies to your peeps, you gain the confidence to actually get out there and talk about it.

It’s not just about selling stuff. It’s about you anchoring into a community that matters to you. It’s about creating an identity of you being valuable and confident.

You know, the stuff that makes you excited to get up every morning 😉

***

This content is part of the “Design Your Signature System Series,” if it resonates, get on the Business Soulwork email list so you can get the upcoming installments in your inbox.

About Ling Wong

Ling is an Intuitive Brainiac. Through her unique blend of Business + Marketing coaching with a Mindset + Psychic Twist, she helps the multi-talented and multi-passionate coaches, consultants and change agents distill ALL their big ideas into ONE cohesive Message, nail the WORDS that sell and design a Plan to cut the busywork and do what matters, through her intuitive yet rigorous iterative process born out of her Harvard Design School training and 10 years of experience in the online marketing industry.

Ling helps her clients optimize the space between individuality + originality vs. “tried-and-true” marketing so they can express their WHY unapologetically and profitably without reinventing the wheel.

Find Ling and grab her free “How to Find YOUR Winning Formula” Training Series here.

Expectations: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!

 in Guest Post  tagged clients / coaching / dopamine / expectations / Frederique Murphy / motivation / neuroscience

In this week’s guest post experienced coach Frederique Murphy shares:

Expectations: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!

By Frederique Murphy

"Expectations: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!" By Frederique Murphy

Ever wondered why you feel pain when you don’t meet a goal? or Why you feel good when you do? or Why you feel so good when you reach more? Beyond the rationality of these 3 scenarios, and of course understanding why you would feel pain when not reaching something or feel good when reaching it, there is an actual neuroscientific explanation to what is going on.

When any of these 3 things happen – and you know that these happen all the times, both to you and your clients, in your life, career, business – your brain releases or withdraws dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, produced in the brain, primarily involved in motivation and reward. When it releases dopamine, you feel good; when it withdraws it, you feel pain. The more your brain releases dopamine, the more you want to keep going and experience it over and over again.

When it comes to you or your clients not meeting, meeting or exceeding something, dopamine plays a huge role. And, all 3 scenarios are linked to the same one thing: EXPECTATIONS.

Expectations are what we think, or hope, is most likely to happen, and whether or not we realise it, we actually have expectations about everything. Let’s break down these 3 scenarios and see what happen when….

  • …your or your coachee’s expectations aren’t met: you or they experience a fall of dopamine; it feels painful,
  • …your or your coachee’s expectations are met: you or they experience a boost of dopamine; it feels good,
  • …your or your coachee’s expectations are exceeded: you or they experience a super boost of dopamine; it feels super good.

As coaches, I believe that the gap between unconscious expectations and conscious expectations is where our potential lies. Work with your clients to help them become aware of their unconscious expectations; this will help them manage their expectations better, and in turn they’ll gain a better control of their dopamine releases throughout the day, thus increasing their motivation.

How will you use this knowledge to better manage your expectations? And, your clients’ ones? I’d love for you to share; this will be helpful for the other coaches. Comment below!

About Frederique Murphy

Frederique MurphySpecialising in Inspirational Leadership, Frederique Murphy is a mindset strategist who inspires leaders to believe and accomplish the extraordinary. With her Mountain Moving Mindset (M3) platform, she equips you with scientifically-based strategies to take your life, career and business to a whole new level: she makes change happen. With over 15 years of experience in corporate change and expertise in positive psychology, neuroscience and behaviour change, she helps your organisation reap the benefits of tapping into the power of the mind. Frederique is a passionate and charismatic speaker, who captivates audiences – when she takes to the stage, sparks fly and beliefs, attitudes and behaviours will be instilled to create lasting change. For more information on Frederique’s transformational services, visit FrederiqueMurphy.com.

Connect with Frederique on Social Media

 

 

 

How to Get Clients Knocking on Your Coaching Practice Door

 in Guest Post  tagged business / clients / coaching practice / finding clients / Max DuBowy / networking

In today’s guest post Max DuBowy looks at:

How to Get Clients Knocking on Your Coaching Practice Door.

By Max DuBowy

"How to Get Clients Knocking on Your Coaching Practice Door" By Max DuBowy

You’re an amazing coach and you know it. You’ve got the skill set to do your job effectively and provide the utmost value to transform your client’s lives. Yet, why is no one knocking on your door to sign up for your coaching services?

The answer is simple: You’re not promoting yourself.

I’ve got some pathetic news for you. 80% of coaches are unable to support themselves solely through their coaching practice. That means only 20% of coaches make a living doing what they love and what they’re good at. Are you part of the 80% or 20%? If you’re not part of the 20%, there is still hope to turn your income around!

To become one of the 20% of coaches who fully support themselves and get clients knocking on their door, you need to promote your services. There are many ways to promote your services and you need to know which ways produce the results you’re looking for.

Practice what you preach – Ask yourself how many clients you want right now. Write this number down on a piece of paper and write down why you want that number. Post this paper in a location you’ll look at everyday such as your desk, refrigerator, or next to your night stand. Say this number out loud several times a day. State the reason why you want this number when you wake up and before you go to sleep.

You need to do this so you have a concrete goal to reach for. You also need to believe in the goal you set for yourself. You know this works because you’re a coach and it’s worked for your clients.

Network, Even if You’re an Introvert! – Getting outside of your comfort zone and introducing yourself to strangers is the best way to meet prospective clients face to face. You get to ask questions to people and learn more about their daily challenges. Go to places like meet up events, local charity fundraisers, or community social mixers. When you go to these events, have a few business cards handy and get ready to introduce yourself.

This is your opportunity to promote who you are, what you do, and why its important. Make sure you speak from a place of honesty and integrity. When you start a conversation at a networking event, ask open ended questions that get other people to speak. This way, you can decide whether or not your coaching services align with their challenges and goals.

If you meet people who don’t need coaching at the moment, don’t be afraid to ask for a referral. Most people are happy to make introductions, especially when you’ve got a great service to provide!

Ask for the sale with confidence – You need to believe that your coaching service is the greatest investment anyone can make in themselves. If you don’t believe that, your future clients will never believe it either. You will only get a client to sign up for your coaching service if you ask for the sale. This means you need to clearly state what your services include and the associated price.

When you ask for the sale and your client follows through, make sure you provide the utmost value for their investment. You need to do this because this is what keeps clients coming back for more coaching sessions and make referrals to your business on your behalf.

These are a few pointers to get clients lining up for your coaching practice. The advice may sound simple and trite, but the techniques are timeless and effective. You deserve to have a fruitful coaching practice because you will be rewarded with personal and professional happiness, pleasure, and fulfillment. When your clients walk away with value and growth, they’ll thank you for your advice and send more clients your way to keep you busy for years and years to come.cleardot

About Max DuBowy

Max DuBowy

Max DuBowy is the founder of Your Success Launch. He helps introverted business owners make friends and sign-up clients in a way that’s easy, effective and fun!

A Challenge Every Coach Faces… and what to do about it

 in Guest Post  tagged awareness / clients / coaches / coaching / experience / Ling Wong / message / tools / training

In today’s guest post Ling Wong shares some of her experience and knowledge as a business and marketing coach:

A Challenge Every Coach Faces… and what to do about it

By Ling Wong

"A Challenge Every Coach Faces… and what to do about it" by Ling Wong

 

As ‪coaches and mentors, how much are we “diagnosing” our clients’ problems through the lens of the tools/skills we possess?

And by doing so, while we are offering a solution, are we in a way limiting our clients’ possibilities?

When I was working on my Sacred Money Archetype Coach Training, I interpreted many things that came up for my clients through the lens of money mindset. When I was getting my Fear Releasing Method certification, seemingly every problem’s root cause was fear.

While my clients were getting great results, I felt we might not have seen the problem in its entirety if I were to stick with just one particular tool or method.

We are all human. Having a point of view is inevitable, and probably desirable (especially if you are looking to position yourself uniquely in the marketplace.)

The challenge comes in when the nature of a coaching or mentoring relationship somewhat puts us in a position of being an “authority” (again, it’s not a bad thing. From a marketing perspective, we want to be seen as an expert or an authority. From a coaching perspective, clients DO want to be lead to a certain extant.)

Which means OUR point of view is going to impact the clients’ decisions and actions, therefore, the outcome.

(We don’t have to look far… I have worked with many clients who had hired business coaches or taken those $1,997 or $3,997 programs only to find themselves being squeezed through an “agenda”, and spat out of the “guru factory line.”  They got themselves into the “niche pickle,” building out business structure and going down a rabbit hole they have no business to be in.)

We can probably guide our clients to achieve an outcome that is “desirable” from an objective point of view. The question I want to pose is whether that is an outcome that serves THAT particular client best? Is it most aligned with his/her core value, identity, beliefs etc.?

Here are a few thoughts on how we can mitigate this challenge:

  1. Cultivate Awareness

Let’s start with the assumption that there is no way around the fact that we have our own point of view.

The first step is to cultivate the awareness that we do bring our own filters into a coaching/mentoring relationship.

Our clients probably hire us because they resonate with our point of view and that’s why they want our guidance.

However, I believe when we are expressing our own opinions we can make it clear that it is our point of view and thus just one way to approach their challenges.

Our role is to expand our clients’ thinking and help them see their challenges from different perspectives, instead of (unintentionally) steering them into one particular decision or action that stems from our perspective.

  1. You Are Not Your Trainings and Certifications

A lot of times the way we approach a problem is determined by our skills and the tools we have at our disposal.

“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

It is important to not to let the “tools du jour” drive our coaching conversations. (More on It’s OK to Say Thank You and Now F*** Off To Your Trainings and Certifications)

Instead, what is the bigger message that drives your work? What is the identity you want to inspire your clients to take on? What beliefs you want to instill in your clients so they can achieve their goals in alignment with what’s true for them?

From there, what tools and methods can you apply, for your clients’ greatest good instead of a self-gratuitous way of using a tool just because you paid money to learn it?

  1. Lead with a Deeper, Bigger Message

Maybe it is about exploring a deeper message, so when we approach a challenge with a client, it’s not about finding a tool-driven solution but a identity/belief-driven solution that can encompasses multiple approaches and perspectives.

This may mean, for many of my multi-passionate and multi-talented peeps, is to gather all their skills, experience, talents, superpowers and ideas, tap into their beliefs and conviction, to device a cohesive message that transcends individual skills and tools.

By doing so, it gives you the framework and allows you the freedom to choose what new skills you want to learn, and what tools you want to add to your toolbox, without having to “redefine” what you do every time, or look like a Jack-of-all-trades.

This framework also acts as a filter so you can avoid the Bright Shiny Object Syndrome, and invest your time, money and effort on what truly matters to YOU.

By having this ONE cohesive message, you will not only be able to give your clients a more inclusive and expansive container to grow and explore, but you will also create more powerful marketing communication because of the clarity, conviction and confidence you achieve in your business.

>> Grab this free training to see how to turn ALL your big ideas into ONE cohesive message that sells.

About Ling Wong

Ling is an Intuitive Brainiac. Through her unique blend of Business + Marketing coaching with a Mindset + Psychic Twist, she helps the highly creative, intuitive, multi-talented and multi-passionate maverick solo-entrepreneurs distill ALL their big ideas into ONE cohesive Message, nail the WORDS that sell and design a Plan to cut the busywork and do what matters, through her intuitive yet rigorous iterative process born out of her Harvard Design School training and 10 years of experience in the online marketing industry.

Find Ling and grab her free “How to Find YOUR Winning Formula” Training Series at http://business-soulwork.com/ywf-free/

 

Discover The 6 Figure Coach Myth

 in Guest Post  tagged 6 figures / business / clients / coaching / happiness / money / Rachel Henke

In today’s guest post Freedom Business Coach Rachel Henke shares some of her expertise as she discusses something she’s observed:

Discover The 6 Figure Coach Myth

By Rachel Henke

"Discover The 6 Figure Coach Myth" by Rachel Henke

Everywhere I click lately people seem to be promising to teach how to hit 6 figures in your coaching business. You’ve probably noticed it yourself and had one of two reactions:

  • “Only 6 figures? I hit that years ago. What’s the big deal? I’m ready to hit 7” OR
  • “6 figures? Are you kidding me? If someone would just show me how to hit 6 figures I’d be over the moon and happy forever.”

And here’s the other thing I’ve noticed.

The coaches who’ve already hit 6 figures still have problems or what look like  problems to them but let’s be honest here; they’re not going hungry.

And the coaches who feel desperate to hit the 6 figures also have problems or what look like problems to them too …

And perhaps they are struggling with the financials more than the first group but they’re usually not going hungry either.
So as I develop my coaching business and my understanding of what I want and what I can help my clients achieve, I experienced an insight which rocked my world.

Whether you’re at 6 figures and beyond, or yearning and striving to reach the infamous 6 figures, has little connection with how happy you feel each day.

Yes, it’s true that since I jumped off what I call my 10 year cash roller coaster, I’m able to have more of the experiences I want that I pay for with money, but I notice I still face some of the same old problems.

They just look different and show up in a different way.  It was actually quite surprising because in my first business model I can see quite clearly that I lived in the future.

‘When I reach xxx I will be so happy.’

‘When I help someone reach xxx we will both be so fulfilled.’

‘When I reach that level my problems will be over.’

‘When we can have our dream holiday it will be amazing.’

Now it’s important I’m clear about something here. I’m not saying that money can’t boost your happiness because in my experience it really can.

When I say yes to my kids rather than no to something ‘expensive’ that I want to say yes to, that makes me very happy… at least in that moment.

When I just booked our dream holiday it made all of my family, including me, very happy.

So I’m not going to become one of those guys who tells you that money isn’t important because in a physical world I think that’s just silly.

BUT it is interesting to notice how our happiness comes from the inside in the same way that the horrible feeling of worry does too.  And whether you are dreaming of 6 figures or are way beyond it, I’m betting that you still feel like you have some problems sometimes.

For example, I’ve realised that if you’re in the habit of worrying about money which so many people are, it’s just as likely that you will still worry about money even when you have a bigger flow coming in. How crazy is that?

You’ll just worry about different things such as taxes, what to invest in and how to manage your money.

I didn’t get this before but now I can see clearly that worrying is just a habit and whether you worry about whether you’re good enough to hit six figures or how you handle your business now  you have it, the worrying can feel curiously the same.

If you want to go deeper on this, your challenge today is to ask yourself a couple of questions:

question mark small 1) Why is it important to you to create or maintain a 6 figure business?

If it’s just because everyone talks about it and it feels like a sexy number then I’d encourage you to have a think about what you really want to create and why.

question mark small 2) How much of your 6 figures do you actually get to keep with your current business model?

Let’s face it, 6 figures is a nice number presuming it’s 6 figures in a solid currency, but if most of it goes back out the door again, then what’s the point?  I had a business like that for years and it was exhausting.

question mark small 3) How many hours do you have to spend travelling, preparing, delivering, marketing and generating new clients just to keep your business going?

If you’re so burned out from running your 6 figure business then your business is pretty much running you.

At the end of the day, as conscious entrepreneurs and coaches I believe we’re driven by the impact we can create but please don’t forget to make that impact on your own life too.

I hope this was helpful for you. Please share on your favourite social media and let me know what you think.

About Rachel Henke 

Rachel HenkeRachel Henke is the bestselling author of “The Niche Expert” – Harness the power of the internet to attract perfect clients, publicity & opportunities, and she is the Freedom Business Coach to thousands around the world via her Marketing & Mindset ezine and podcast.

Rachel is the founder of www.Rachelhenke.com which offers virtual coaching & simple online marketing systems for entrepreneurial experts to boost their expert factor with a magnetic brand whilst creating a life of freedom, purpose and profits.

‘Breaking free’ of the corporate world upon relocating to a sleepy village in the UK after living in Jerusalem for many years, she started her first home based business working a couple of hours a day from the breakfast bar round her two young daughters back in 2003 and has never looked back.

Several years later, tired of being out of the house & away from her children so much, she turned to the internet & social media to attract a global following and became what she now calls a ‘freedom coach.’

An in demand online marketing, personal branding expert and published author, Rachel has been featured on BBC Radio, Association for Coaching, International Coach Federation and other international media.

Claim Your Free Training & Discover The Secret Formula To Attract An Abundant Flow Of Perfect Premium, Clients Who Value Your Expertise & Want What You’re Selling:  http://rachelhenke.com/coachingconfidence

Coaching with metaphor

 in Guest Post  tagged clients / coaching / experience / metaphor / Nick Wright

In today’s guest post leadership coach and organisation development consultant Nick Wright shares a real life coaching experience in:

Coaching with metaphor

By Nick Wright

"Coaching with metaphor" by Nick Wright

I’m in this room, it’s the first time we’ve met and this man is explaining to me how he’s struggling in a key relationship. It’s a relationship between two organisations and this man, Simon, is the leader of one of them. The conversation runs for a while and Simon’s description of the relationship and what he’s experiencing from the other – what he describes as distance and defensiveness – sounds tough.

As he speaks, I become aware that the room we’re in feels cold. It’s a sunny day and the aircon is turned up high. I glance around the room at the stark furniture. The tables and chairs are in perfect formation. Functional, straight lines. There’s nothing that suggests or reveals a human touch. No pictures, no plants, no photographs. This is the room where he meets with Sandra, leader of the other organisation.

I comment on this, share this observation, then offer a reflection, an idea: ‘How far are you trying to find a cold, formal solution to an issue that is essentially about human relationship and trust?’ Simon looks stunned for a moment, then pauses, then goes quiet. I’m wondering how he will respond. Could this be a (proverbial) light bulb moment? Is there something about this room that holds the key?

Then Simon speaks. ‘You know, I hadn’t realised it. We’ve built our relationship on formal lines – terms of reference, strategies, proposals – and we’ve never really taken the time to get to know and understand each other as people.’ A penny has dropped. I can see it in his eyes. I respond: ‘Do you know what you need to do?’ Simon nods and jots down a note. The meeting is finished. It lasts 10 minutes.

About Nick Wright

Nick Wright is a leadership coach and organisation development consultant. www.nick-wright.com. Twitter: @adeeperquestion

5 Questions To Ask When Silence Sets In

 in Guest Post  tagged clients / coaching / coaching session / experience / Frederique Murphy / questions / silence

In this week’s guest post experienced coach Frederique Murphy shares:

5 Questions To Ask When Silence Sets In

By Frederique Murphy

"5 Questions To Ask When Silence Sets In" By Frederique Murphy

Here you are: ready, as your session with your next client is coming up and as per your usual process after having established rapport, you jump in and ask: So, what would you like to focus on today? or something similar, a question that helps you kick-start the session and get your client talking about what they would like to be focusing on today. And, then, the silence sets in…

Depending on your experience, this is a scenario that may either be familiar or odd to you, and over the years of coaching, while I agree that it might sound odd, it does in fact happen; particularly when your client has invested in one of your multisession coaching packages and you coach them on a regular basis. There will be times when they show up and it’d seem that they have nothing.

Here are 5 suggested questions to use when your client comes up with ‘nothing’ at the start of a session, so that you, when it happens, will be ready and able to serve them as you lead the session:

  • What is the greatest thing that has happened to you this week in your life/career?

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  • What can you do today and onwards to ensure that this thing happens again?
  • What is preventing you from having already achieved X [insert client’s top goal]?
  • If X [insert client top’s block, e. money, time, age, qualifications…] was not a hindrance for you, what would you do?
  • What would you change if you had a magic wand?
  • Visualise… it is 12/24/36 months ahead and everything is perfect: you’ve achieved all of your goals!!! What do you see, hear, feel, taste and smell?

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  • [Extract achievements and ask] How have you achieved it?

Any of these – and do trust that you, as the coach, will know which one to go for, will help you coach your client – even when they say ‘nothing’ at the start of the session, so that you can serve your client and continue delivering benefits to guide them forward in their life, career or business.

Do you already have your own set of questions to use when your client comes up with ‘nothing’ during a session? Which questions do you find work best for you? I’d love for you to share; this will be helpful for the other coaches. Comment below!

About Frederique Murphy

Frederique MurphyIt’s hard to thrive as an organisation when your employees’ mindset is letting you all down. Mindset is what sets your organisation apart – it is THE factor in determining your success. Frederique Murphy provides individuals, corporate executives, and entrepreneurs with a wealth of mountain moving mindset resources to help them become the true leaders of their life, career and business. She is a mindset strategist who specialises in Inspirational Leadership. By equipping you with inspiration and scientifically-based strategies, she instils beliefs, attitudes and behaviours to create lasting change. With over 15 years of experience in corporate change and expertise in positive psychology, neuroscience and behaviour change, she helps your organisation reap the benefits of tapping into the power of the mind. For more information on Frederique’s transformational range, visit FrederiqueMurphy.com, join the free M3 Power Community, and start climbing now!

Connect with Frederique on Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IrishSmiley

LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/frederiquemurphy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrederiqueMurphyM3

Google+: https://www.google.com/+FrederiqueMurphy

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/irishsmiley/