Coaching Business Startup 104 – Running a trial coaching session
How to Become a Coach. With Coaching Training and Mentoring Expert JJ Jalopy. Assisted by superstar guest-blogger Coach Kalpna.
Hey there!
It’s a beautiful sunny day here by the seaside.
I got you a stick of rock.
This is what a stick of rock looks like.
I love being by the seaside. It makes me feel so peaceful.
Which is a weird thing to say when you’re on a batchelor weekend!
Earlier this week I urged you to call ten people and invite them to experience a trial coaching session. Now we’re going to talk about that session itself.
And today you’re in for a treat!
Because Coach Kalpna from www.coachKalpna.com is going to talk to you.
So I’m going to sit back, shut up and enjoy the view as Kalpna fills you in on how she likes to run her trial coaching sessions…
How to run a trial coaching session
Like with any other coaching session, I want to set it up right. For me the underlying objective of the trial session is to make the client feel comfortable and at ease – with me. I want to build strong rapport.
My other objectives are:
- To find out what has brought them to coaching and what they know about coaching
- What they expect from me as their coach
- Give them a brief overview of how coaching works with me e.g. how I structure sessions, what I expect from my clients and what I expect from them in this session etc.
- To get a clear goal and/or vision from them
- To coach them into breaking down their goal into bite-sized steps
- To focus on one bite-sized step and coach them through this
- To get them to sign up to further coaching sessions with me!
That’s quite a few objectives! Aside from building good rapport, the main objective is to run a effective coaching session so that when the client comes to the end of the session they have real clarity about their vision and even have some actions that they are motivated to do that will bring them that little bit closer to their goal. It’s this bit that the client is interested in – seeing how coaching will work for them personally. And if I run an effective coaching session the client will see the true benefit in coaching for themselves so I won’t have to try and ’sell’ it to them.
I like helping my clients achieve their goals in bite-sized steps. Achieving a little frequently makes them feel good about themselves and makes their goal seem really achievable. It’s important to note that it’s the client who defines these “bite-sized steps” i.e. they are in control of how much they are willing to commit to achieving between sessions. For example, if they commit to spending 40 hours on their goal in a week and this is a realistic bite-sized step for them, then that’s fine with me.
The great thing about using the trial session to help the client break down their goal is that I’ve already helped them define what they could use future coaching sessions for. That’s the first step to getting them to sign up to more coaching with me!
At the end of the trial session I always ask what has been the most helpful thing for them from this trial session and how they think working with me as their coach will benefit them. That’s step two to getting them to sign up to more coaching. Of course, at this point they may still have some concerns or feel that it might not ‘work’. This is my opportunity to clarify what coaching is and how I will support them. If they are hesitant, I ask them how likely it is that they will continue to keep doing what they’ve been doing and therefore not achieve their goal.
Lastly – and most importantly – I always ask if they’d like to continue having coaching sessions with me. That’s the final step – know if they’re going to become my client!
My top tips for running a trial coaching session are:
1) Set it up right – give the client a brief overview of coaching but concentrate on how YOU provide coaching to them.
2) Get a clear goal/vision, help the client to break it down and run a strong coaching session that demonstrates the value of coaching to the client.
3) Ask them what they found the most helpful from the session which can then lead into asking them to sign up for more sessions. Tip within a tip – If they say some strong things about how you helped them in this session, ask if you could use their words in a testimonial for your marketing material!
Wow! That was great, wasn’t it?!
Thanks Mrs. Jalopy. You’re a superstar!
Kalpna made some fantastic points. A great distinction that Kalpna made is that you want to be focused on what coaching with YOU is like. Don’t drone on about the coaching process or whatever coaching model you’re using. That’ll only serve to send them to sleep. Let them know what the experience of coaching with YOU is like. Focus on that.
One thing I would add is that I think there is some value in making it clear what you want out of the trial session.
You’re looking to see whether you can have a future coaching relationship. I would explain this right at the start before I ask about the client’s objectives.
Tomorrow I’ll elaborate on this, and I’ll share some tactics which will help you turn more of your trial sessions into ongoing coaching arrangements. But for now, thanks to the wonderful advice of Coach Kalpna, you have more than enough to get you started.
Remember that the most important thing is to get out there and get started. And HAVE FUN! Coaching is fun. Be sure to enjoy it!
If you’d like to experience what coaching can be like with a truly great coach, then get in touch with Kalpna at her website www.coachKalpna.com. She’s the best I know!
Thanks for all your comments yesterday. I really enjoyed reading about who inspires you.
Right… I’m off to the pier to go and win a teddy bear!
Until tomorrow!
JJ Jalopy.
Comment by John Ho
18 April 2009
Good example of how to conduct a trial coaching session.
Keep them coming!
JJ, you can relax via delegation to your wife
)
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personalities for Better Influence & Persuasion (WordPress Blog)
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personalities for Better Influence & Persuasion (Money Page)
Comment by Rob Northrup
18 April 2009
This is excellent sales technique being used. You are giving them a trial, giving them important stuff right off the bat that is being given away free, and you are trying to get them to experience the success of working with you.
kudos,
Seize the Day,
Rob
Sales Eagles Soar Above the Competition!
Personal Asset Protection For Small Business Owners
Comment by Pam Schulz
18 April 2009
Awesome post! So nice to know there are two coaching geniuses in the family. I liked the point that it’s important to let your clients know up front what coaching with YOU will be like. I look forward to visiting http://www.coachKalpna.com. when I have a moment.
Hope you are having a wonderful time near the sea – there’s no better place – although I have to admit Don’s photos of Central Oregon are quite intriguing!
Pam
http://www.greatwealth.com
Comment by Avery
18 April 2009
Great advice Mrs Jalopy!
Comment by Anthony Lemme
19 April 2009
Hi JJ,
Great post once again. You must teach me how you do that. They are so great. Very informative as always. Are you getting all of my comments, they are coming everyday but they often don’t post for some strange reason.
Kind Regards,
Anthony
http://www.anthonylemme.com
Comment by Christian Haller
19 April 2009
A free taste is one of the ulitmate hooks – works for casinos and drug dealers too…
Christian Haller
The Art of Good Eating
Easy Italian Recipes
Comment by Don Shepherd
19 April 2009
I like when you asked if they would like to continue coaching sessions. forces a decision and people hate to say no to your face.
Don Shepherd
Central Oregon Expert_Oregon or Bust
Comment by Darryl Pace
19 April 2009
Thank you for that info, JJ and coach Kalpna! This is valuable information on how to start an on-going client relationship. The principles can be applied to many types of face-to-face business relationships.
Health, Fitness, Success — Darryl Pace
Comment by April Braswell
19 April 2009
excellent examples for starting coaching business sessions.
and LOVE the stick of rock
I always like the chocolate ones myself.
Best regards,
April Braswell
Dating Expert and Online Dating Coach
Comment by Lynn Lane
19 April 2009
Very good post.
A very good lesson for coaching, relationship building and sales training.
A very good take away today.
Lynn Lane
http://www.Warriorofsuccess.com
Comment by Lisa McLellan
19 April 2009
What a great team you make! thank you Mrs. Jalopy!
Lisa McLellan, Babysitting Classes – Babysitters, Nannies, and Au-pairs
Comment by jc mackenzie
19 April 2009
Great informative post as always.
All the best!
JC JC
Comment by Steve Chambers
19 April 2009
What a great process to follow. Great advice.
Steve
Comment by Yann Vernier - ProfitsTactics.com
19 April 2009
Excellent advice. Brilliant “test drive” approach, the client gets to experience the benefits of working you and essentially convinces himself to invest in further sessions. Small business owners can adapt this model to pretty much any field. Great stuff.
All the best,
Yann
http://www.ProfitsTactics.com
Comment by Mark Mallen
19 April 2009
Baby or bite size steps are so important for both reliving the stress of a seemingly overwhelming task and also developing confidence. Nice post from the Jalopy clan. Mark
Marketingscoops
GlacierIceCream
Comment by Mark Mallen
19 April 2009
Great advice about bite size steps from the jalopy clan. They help develop confidence and also take the stress out of big tasks. Mark
Marketingscoops
Comment by Duane Cunningham
19 April 2009
Hey JJ,
Hope the head isn’t too sore today
Great post to you both Mr and Mrs Jalopy! Another great idea when presenting your offer is to package deal for multiple session packs
ie, say 5, 10 and 20 sessions with discount’s for longer terms even maybe having a monthly recurring billing deal
Awesome post
Duane
Super-ADVANCED Sales & Persuasion Strategies? Proven to Quickly Create a Flood of Money? Constantly & Continuously Flowing into YOUR ?Bank Account Like the Niagara Falls…?100% GUARANTEED!!
Discover Secret Persuasion Techniques that Work Like Magic by Tapping Into the Psychology of the Mind with The Worlds Leading Persuasion Expert Duane Cunningham!
Comment by Bob Kaufer
19 April 2009
JJ
Thanks for the post and also exposing us to Coach Kalpna.
Bob Kaufer
Z Health For Life
Comment by Damon D
19 April 2009
Great post again JJ and Coach Kalpna!
Damon
Comment by Pat Becker
19 April 2009
Masterful JJ. Really enjoyed hearing from Kalpna. Looks to me like you have two talented life coaches under one roof.
-Pat
Business Owners Fast Track to Internet Profits
Comment by David Power
20 April 2009
This is such great information on how to do a trial coaching session!!!
Also i love being besides the sea!!!
Expert in Medical Hypnosis, Success Thinking and Practical Parenting
David Power’s Hour