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Have you ever asked a client to do something you knew would scare the heck out of them?
Or held firm to requesting a client get something done in a ridiculously short time frame?
Or clearly stated to a client that the story they are telling themselves is keeping them stuck?
Actions like these (taken from my Courageous Coaching® training) challenge your clients to step past fear, to face their growing edge, and to astonish themselves with what they can accomplish.
And they challenge YOU to stop playing it safe, to stop worrying what someone will think of you, and to quit being so nice.
If you’re not regularly challenging your clients then you’re at great risk of losing clients and will have difficulties commanding higher fees.
So, how do you balance being feminine…and edgy?
How do you challenge a client to do more and to be more than they thought they could…without being a bully?
The key is knowing 3 simple Courageous Coaching® training secrets that I’m delighted to share with you now. Integrate these into your coaching and you’ll have clients who get results and who adore you for holding their best interests at heart even when you get tough with your coaching.
Courageous Coaching® training secret #1: Use The Power Of Your Voice
Surprisingly, you can challenge a client and ask them deeply personal questions without creating defensiveness IF you use your voice correctly. I mastered this early in my coaching career and it’s allowed me to have clients quickly feel safe, to trust me and to hear on a deep level my particular brand of fierce love coaching.
My secret? Letting go of worrying what my client will think of me, and instead, focusing on my intention, which is to speak the truth to my client, no matter what. There is no critical parent, condescension, judgment or disapproval happening within me, which leaves my energy free to convey strength and support while I take an “of course you can!” approach to what’s possible for my clients.
Courageous Coaching® training secret #2: Don’t Apologize
I’ve heard coaches apologize for everything from interrupting a client spinning a story, to making an action request to asking a client why they haven’t moved forward.
Apologizing robs you of your power, so in 3 simple words: Stop. Doing. It.
The only time I apologize is if I am genuinely confused. For example, I’ll say,
“I’m sorry, but I’m confused. You said you wanted to ________________ yet now what I’m hearing is why you can’t move forward. It sounds like you’re afraid of something. What might that be?”
Courageous Coaching® training secret #3: Hold Your Clients As Powerful, No Matter What, Even If They Can’t Do So For Themselves
This is the mindset that is foundational to ALL of my Courageous Coaching® training programs. And here’s why: when someone is in the midst of making a transformation their fear is going to pop up to try to stop them from taking action.
If you hold them as powerful — no matter what — they can borrow your strength and your belief in them to see them through this moment.
Some mentors will tell you this doesn’t matter…
Some mentors will tell you that it doesn’t matter if you’ve had coach training.
I disagree!
Masterful coaching has the power to change lives…yours, your clients, their families, employees, coworkers…the ripple effect is unlimited.
Masterful coaches make it look easy because we’re following a system instead of just guessing as to what works.
As a creator of transformation (that’s you!), the measure of your clients’ results is often in the power of how bold YOU are willing to be!
Want to know more about my Courageous Coaching® training program? Click here today
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