Even after life coaching training courses, many new coaches are unclear about exactly how to get clients. Sure, most coach training courses suggest that you run free sessions but a lot of time it’s not effective. Why? In order for a free coaching session to be compelling enough to enroll a client, that client must see you as the only way to achieve what is most important in his life. Most coach training courses do not make this distinction. Here are some of life coaching training essentials that will change the way you run free sessions forever.
Life Coaching Training 101: Establish Rapport
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The first of these life coaching training essentials is that you must establish rapport. A lot of coaches think that having a friendly conversation is enough to establish rapport. It’s not. You must get them to know, like and trust you. The coach training technique that I’ve found most powerful is to use a three-part compliment. Compliment them sincerely, tell them why you feel that way, and then ask a question to get more clarity on what allowed them to believe or accomplish whatever you complimented them on.
Life Coaching Training 101: Use Your Coaching Skills Effectively to Make a Difference
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The next of these life coaching training essentials is to make sure you are discussing an ambitious goal. One of my clients told me his goal was to complete a century bicycle ride in a month’s time. At the age of 70, I thought this might be an ambitious goal so asked him a few more questions. I found out that he had done this event nine times in the past. This goal was going to be achieved whether we had this session or not. Don’t let your coach training go to waste. Make sure you are making the best use of your time and your clients by having them tell you what makes their goals ambitious, and raise the stakes if you need to.
Life Coaching Training 101: Emotionally Engage Your Prospective Clients
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The most important life coaching training lesson is to get your clients emotionally engaged. Just like no one buys a car for a rational reason, you must get your clients emotionally connected to their goal. It has to go from a good idea to a desire so great that they would do anything to attain it. One coach training tip is to get them to see the pain they would experience by not achieving their goal and the intense pleasure they would experience if they achieved that goal. Then ask then what it would be worth to be able to make that choice. It has to be priceless, or they are not emotionally committed to that goal. Keep working with them until they get to that point.
How long does it take to run a free session using these life coaching training essentials? The answer is until you complete it. I have spent up to three hours with a client during a free session, because that is what he needed. I have also enrolled people in under an hour; the average is an hour and a half. The best coach training lesson is to give your clients what they need to move forward, and don’t count the minutes. If you think you’re going to run out of time, schedule a follow up. Some people may get so much out of the free session that they will feel they don’t need coaching. These people are a great source of referrals. The others will enroll into coaching if at all possible. In any case, at least you played full out and make a difference in someone’s life.
Colette Seymann
JTS Advisors Bi-Designated Strategy and Accountability Coach




