If you are starting out as a new Coach, Consultant or Business Owner and are constantly confused about your niche, questioning whether you are an expert in anything and struggling to decide who you are wanting to work with, then your REAL PROBLEM is that you are not accepting yourself as you are.
Okay so I am going to say this again, “The problem is not outside of yourself the problem is inside.”
I can tell you hand on heart that the single most important factor in a Coach, Consultant or Therapists gaining clients for their business, is confidence.
When you don’t accept yourself for who you are and recognise your gifts, it is a million times harder to gain clients. Because your lack of confidence holds you back from sharing what you know about how you can help the person you are talking to.
How confidence influences how you come across to prospects…
Let me share a story to illustrate this point..
Imagine yourself as a client choosing a Coach. You have narrowed down two great Coaches that you could work with. Both have identical qualifications, both are knowledgeable in the area you need help with, both have an offering that meets your needs perfectly. On paper both would be well able to support you with achieving your objectives.
Then you get onto a call with the first Coach. The Coach is kind, attentive to your story, asks you questions, but you sense she is feeling anxious. At the end of the call you ask her about her program. She tells you about the program, it all sounds good but you don’t get a clear sense of her confidence that this program will help you with your issues. The coach almost seems embarrassed when she says what the program investment is. You share that this is a big investment for you, and the Coach says she understands and will send you details of the program so you can think it over. You hang up feeling unsure as to whether this Coach can really help you or not.
You arrive on the call with the second Coach. This Coach immediately welcomes you, the conversation between you two flows easily. She asks a lot of similar questions to the first coach, but this time you feel more able to connect with this Coach. At the end of the call this Coach takes the lead and asks whether you would like to hear about you can work together. You are excited and say yes. The Coach effortlessly relates how her program will support you with your specific issues that you raised earlier in the call.
When you ask what the investment is, the Coach without hesitation shares the price. It is a big investment for you and you express this. This Coach supports you with exploring the investment and reminds you of your goals that you’ve shared that you want to achieve. This helps you to see that the investment is actually a fraction of what it would mean to you to achieve your goals. You feel secure in going ahead with working with this Coach and sign up there and then.
Can you see from this story of the two Coaches why CONFIDENCE is such a key factor in success?
I am sure you can.
But if you are saying to yourself, “Oh my goodness,you’ve just described me”, and you are wondering what to do now that you’ve seen what’s been going on on your calls with prospects. Then I want you to feel hopeful and congratulate yourself on realising what has been stopping you up until now. The good news is that inner confidence is not static. It is something that you can 100% learn, develop and grow. In fact I would say that it does not matter how successful you are as a Coach, working on your inner confidence should be a daily habit.
How to build your self-confidence every day..
The reason why growing your self confidence needs to be a daily habit is because you are going to want to keep stepping out of your comfort zone to make the impact you are here to make with your work.
Here are three powerful exercises I use daily to grow my self confidence. I have taught them to my coaching clients too and they have had amazing results for them, so I know you are going to love them:
1. Meditate to ease anxiety
I cannot stress how important it is to honour your feelings of anxiety and yet not let them stop you from stepping out of your comfort zone. I use meditation everyday in the morning to release any feelings of anxiety that I have. I spent 10 years working with people with anxiety disorders and the breathing exercises I used with them to help them relax and release their anxiety are the same ones I use myself. I personally love Brad Austen’s meditation album “Meditations To Ease Anxiety & Depression”, you can find him on Spotify or check out his website here: https://www.the-guided-meditation-site.com/brad-austen.html
2. Reflect and journal on the value you bring to you work
Take 5 to 10 minutes each day reflecting and writing down about the value you bring to your work. Write down all the positive feedback you have received about your gifts from clients, colleagues and friends. Reflect on the positive comments you often receive from others about you as a person (not just your work as a coach) and write these down. Be honest with yourself and let yourself truly open to your expertise that you have developed over your lifetime from challenges you have experienced and overcome, and from the training you have undertaken. Make this a daily habit to focus on your value.
3. Ask clients, friends and colleagues to tell you what they value about you
I know this can require some bravery, yet it is something I highly recommend that you do. When you ask your clients focus on what they value about working with you, what has been most meaningful for them, and what qualities have they found within you that has been supportive to them. When you choose to ask your friends or colleagues make sure to pick three people who you trust and are supportive. Don’t go asking someone who isn’t supportive as their answers will not be beneficial to you. Invite your friends or colleagues to tell you what they value about you, what gifts they see you as having, what inspires them. And make sure you take in what they say and don’t just brush it off.
If you are struggling with lacking the confidence to launch or grow your business then I encourage you to download my ebook: “How To Overcome Fear & Self-Doubt And Become The Confident & Talented Coach You Are”. Simply click this link below to download this ebook instantly: <<Download Ebook Now>>
If you’d like my help with overcoming your mindset issues and growing your successful coaching business book a free 1:1 call with me here: book your call
“Shelley is the founder of the UK’s leading provider of online business and marketing training to Coaches. An experienced entrepreneur Shelley has helped hundreds of Coaches, Consultants and Therapists to attract High-Paying Clients and Build Highly Profitable Coaching Businesses”
Shelley Hutchinson, Marketing Expert, clientnectar.com
