Most people who try to grow their coaching practice through public speaking leave money on the table at every event, and they don’t even know it.  To avoid this costly mistake there are two coaching tips you must handle BEFORE you enter the room.  And the great news is that these coaching tips are simple things you can now so you can enroll more clients into your coaching practice at your next speaking engagement.

When You’re in the Front of the Room You Must Have Your “A” Game on in Order to Grow Your Coaching Practice

The first of these coaching tips is that you better be ridiculously ‘on.’  That means you must get yourself into a powerful state of mind; come from a powerful place emotionally and physiologically.  It’s your responsibility to show up and be ready to provide value to prospective clients and to change their lives for the better.  Don’t make it about your coaching practice; make it about your audience.  If you’re in the right state, more will come out of you.

Timing is Key During Your Presentation if You Want to Gain More Clients in Your Coaching Practice

The second of these coaching tips is that you need to say the right thing at the right time during the presentation.  During the first five minutes, there are things you need to say or no one will sign up for anything related to your coaching practice.  Also, there are things you need to say at the end as well.  As one of my mentors Eric Lofholm says, “People behave in predictable ways.”  Make sure your presentation has a certain level of predictability.  Pre-frame what you’ll offer them within first five minutes in a way that’s compelling.  And likewise at the end of the presentation, your closing words should be compelling.  Just like the Home Shopping Network has you ripping out your credit card and picking up the phone, you don’t remember that you don’t need another piece of exercise equipment.  That’s compelling.

The Most Important of These Coaching Tips: Practice, Practice, Practice

How do you get there?  Beyond the basics of knowing your target market and writing out your script; the most important of these coaching tips is to memorize your offer.  Word for word.  If it’s not memorized to that level, once you’re in front of people you’ll get nervous and not even say it at all.  About two weeks or more before your presentation, start memorizing your offers and go over them every day for 30-60 minutes.  Practice until it is so automatic you can do it in your sleep.  Don’t worry; it won’t sound boring from the front of the room.  You’ll actually be excited.  It will be easy for you, and people will feel comfortable with you and your coaching practice.

And look, even if you follow these coaching tips you’re going to mess it up from time to time.  But more work you put in ahead of time, the closer you’ll be to the mark.  And over time the benefit to your coaching practice will be measurable.

Colette Seymann

JST Advisors Designated Accountability Coach