I Give Free Consultations... So, Why Dont They Hire Me?

I show my clients a way to answer the question, "So, What Do You Do?" quickly and effectively. What I sometimes hear afterwards is,

"Anna that works great, people now 'get' what I do and say, 'Yeah, I could sure do with help like that' but they're still not hiring me. What am I doing wrong? I get them talking about a problem and help them arrive at a solution. I then ask if they want some more coaching. They respond, 'No, I'm fine at the moment, I'll let you know'. "

Coaches feel tempted to start coaching right then and there. It's a natural tendency because we are good problem-solvers and want to showcase our ability as competent coaches. Next time someone shows interest in your coaching, ask questions to discover some of their challenges - BUT DON'T TRY TO SOLVE THEM at this time.

You see?they don't need a "freebie" session to be convinced you are a good coach. They need to hear pertinent questions designed to find out is troubling or impeding them. Show you care enough to find out the big picture of what is going on and you'll peak their interest in hiring you. The idea is leave people wanting more of your help.

Ask, listen carefully and file their answers in your mind. Then talk about an ideal solution. Not your solution, a general ideal solution. Use phrases like:

"Wouldn't it be great if you felt more confident doing ??""It would probably be ideal if you could make better decisions that resulted in ?? Is that right?"

Here is another common frustration I hear:

"I offer a complimentary coaching session and even then I don't always convert them."

What I recommend is to offer a complimentary coaching assessment session. Where you find out what's bothering someone, how bad it is and how committed they are to solving it. If they are not committed to clearing the problems and moving ahead or do not have the money, why waste your precious time (and theirs) going on about how you can help? The simple question to ask before any coaching gets done is:

"How committed are you to solving this?"

If they say "very committed", then you can suggest a coaching plan that suits their needs and budget. You'll show them that:

*You know your stuff by asking questions that get to the heart of their frustrations
*They need your help - talk about an ideal solution and get their agreement
*With some dedicated coaching from you, they can reach their ideal solution.
*Working with you on X number of sessions will benefit them in many ways

Show professionalism by delving into what is important to solve and then estimate of the number of coaching sessions that will help. If a person or organization doesn't have the money or determination to clear their issues then we can safely conclude that they are not our ideal clients and there are thousands out there who are.

Learn more about how Anna Kanary can help improve your ability to get hired for your services and attract the kind of clients you love to work with, by visiting http://www.AnnaKanary.com or join one of Anna's high-content, interactive TeleClasses click here to choose the right one for you. Anna's Upcoming TeleClasses.

Anna brings to her training programs and coaching work, a background of 12 years in telecommunications as an Account Representative, first selling electronic business systems, then in Yellow Pages advertising. Following that, Anna transitioned into the education field where she honed her training expertise during 10 years of designing, coordinating and facilitating programs at learning centers like The Banff Centre for Management in Banff, Alberta, Canada and Victoria's Business Development Commission in Victoria, BC.

Anna is also the owner and founder of Emerging Wisdom Enterprises, a business dedicated to helping clients create compelling website copy, promotional material, sales presentations as well as high content, interactive TeleClasses and workshops.

What she does:
As a praised and recognized instructor at Victoria BC's "Business Economic Development Commission", Anna trains new entrepreneurs on how to get free publicity, write promotional material and improve their business communication skill.

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Coaching Information:

Related Articles

Life On The Receiving End Of Coaching
What is it like to be on the receiving end of mentoring to improve your performance in pocket billiards and at the same time, participate in life changing coaching?You are the reason for all of the things you are going through. Once you accept that, you are then ready to make the changes that will take you to the next level and far beyond.
Every Obstacle Always Presents an Opportunity
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.
Learn to Say No!
How many times have you agreed to do something that you actually didn't want to do? For someone at work? Your friends? Even your spouse? All you had to do was say no, but the word didn't come out. So you end up doing it?and later resent it.
What Do You Have To Give?
"Happiness is not a matter of good fortune or worldly possessions. It's a mental attitude.
Handling Disappointment
Disappointment is an inevitable part of home-based business. Clients won't pay, bids fall through, or business associates don't come through on their promises or act unethically.
Key Questions for a Coaching Conversation
There are 2 key skills that coaches need to be truly effective, the ability to listen (often for what is missing rather than what is said) and the ability to ask the right question at the right time.Now in reality there are no 'right' questions, there are however some very good, and fairly generic questions that when asked which can make a significant difference to the way in which a coaching interaction progresses.
Coaching Skills for Peers: Extending Influence
Many people think of coaching solely as a management technique. Although coaching skills provide managers with the means to get business results while creating solid relationships, the value of coaching in other arenas is often overlooked.
How Coaches Find Clients Online
At a recent networking meeting Jana asked for a recommendation for a public speaking coach. She was starting to speak in front of audiences, and wanted to polish her presentation skills a bit.
Ten Ways to Make New Years Resolutions That You Can Actually Keep!
Are you one of the millions of people who make big New Year's Resolutions each year, only to watch those resolutions fall by the wayside mere days or weeks later? Would you like to be able to set New Year's Resolutions that you can actually keep? It might be easier than you think!Choose your resolutions carefully. These should be things that you really want and are ready to work on, not just things that you think you should work on.
Secrets of Creating Interpersonal Power
If you work with people, as a company owner, manager and team leader or on the customer interface, your impact on others is your most important asset! Someone creating 'Interpersonal Power', as I see it, has the ability to inspire, motivate and facilitate outstanding action in another.In 1996 I won the Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA, in Whitewater Slalom.
The Difference Between Approval and Appreciation
Having worked with individuals, couples, families and business partners for 35 years, helping them learn to resolve conflict, I have often been faced with the difficulties that occur when people are confused about the difference between approval with appreciation. Have you ever wondered about the difference between approval and appreciation? Most of us have never actually thought about it, yet if we do think about it, we realize that we feel very differently when we receive approval as opposed to receiving appreciation.
Going On a Mental Diet
Diets are always in style. Every time you turn around, someone is coming out with a new and improved diet.
Transform Your Office Into A Powerhouse Of Success
Did you know that the area that you call your 'office' is a direct reflection of you? If your environment is clean and uncluttered it projects that the person who works there is calm and has everything under control. Consequently if it looks like the local rubbish tip then the impression others get is that this person is disorganised, and a complete mess.
How to Tune In Your Brain & Feel Confident with People in Moments
One day when I was in school, many years ago, the school principal wandered into our class room, sat down and started to talk.He talked and talked; and there was nothing we could do to stop him seeing as how he was in charge!For once he actually said something that interested me and I never forgot what he said.
Trust In The Moment, and Trust In Yourself
Do you often get yourself upset and feeling less than fully confident, as part of your preparation for facing a daunting challenge? You can improve your performance if you let your somatic intelligence lead the way."You move too much to be effective.
9 Guidelines For Spiritual Coaching
Spirituality coaching is more than creating goals and holding someone accountable. Spirituality coaching takes into account the whole person, that is, mind, body and spirit.
The Executive Coaching Contract
Having found a coach you feel comfortable and excited about working with, the next step is to discuss and sign the coaching contract or agreement. This is vital to ensure that both coach and client are clear from the outset about what is expected.
The Benefits of Coaching
When I was first introduced to the profession of personal coaching, my first initial thought was that it sounded exactly like something I would love to pursue. I did further investigation into the profession and before I knew it I was happily enrolled in the Coach Training Program offered through Coach U University in Colorado, USA.
Addiction to Worry
Carole started counseling with me because she was depressed. She had been ill with chronic fatigue syndrome for a long time and believed her depression was due to this.
What is Life Coaching?
An recent article in Money Magazine said that "A coach may be the guardian angel you need to rev up your career." In fact, if you pick up any major newspaper or magazine, you are bound to come across a glowing article on coaching.