About this episode
In this session of Better Business Coach Podcast, I release my secret to hitting the ground running with clients from minute one of their first paid session. As a coach, you don’t have to leave initiating the coaching experience to your first paid session, you can set tasks that will aid you in your preparation.
This task will ensure that you are crystal clear about where the client wants to go and that each one of your sessions has a laser focus in getting them there.
Episode outline:
“People with goals succeed because they know where they are going, it’s as simple as that.” – Earl Nightingale
Over one-hundred years of business research tells us that businesses that perennially do well regardless of geography, market or conditions are the ones that set goals. The ones that fail are ones that didn’t set goals and fail to plan.
It is clear that there is a direct cause and effect relationship between goal setting and success, so why when coaching wouldn’t you want to know your client’s goals right away?
Regardless of whether a client starts with my “Rapid Growth Intensive” program, standard business coaching, or my “Better Business Coach – Solid Foundation” program, right after the client pays for my first series of sessions I set them the below task.
1. Pick 3 business/career goals and 3 personal life goals, one of which must be selfish. Make sure they know that by selfish you mean a goal that is purely “I” focused and excludes family, friends and community. Unless you make this clear, some clients will feel bad providing you anything with an “I” focus.
2. Ensure that each goal fits the below criteria:
SMART Goal Framework
Specific – Not vague in nature.
Measurable – Includes a measurable element that can show tangible outcomes when seeking goal attainment.
Attainable – A goal that isn’t unrealistic. This is particularly relevant for a startup business. Many set themselves ridiculously high goals they don’t believe they can actually achieve. Conversely, others set goals that are too low, goals that even if they achieve they will still have a failing business. While not required for this task, and shouldn’t be given to your client at this stage, to do this well they can also look at available data like:
o What is market worth?
o The growth rate of the market
o Competitors in the market over the last year or quarter
