It’s Time To Lead

A little story today...

Simon was a potential client when I was based in Australia. His fitness studio was in trouble and he asked to have a session with me. And then he canceled on me. By text message (WTF?!)

I was initially willing to reschedule and suggested two alternatives.

But then I received is my email…

"Mondays and Fridays are very tight. Monday's, I'm only free between 10am and 1pm and Fridays I'm only good between 9:30 AM and 12 PM. Try again."

Try again?? Grrr.

This was not the sign of someone who is committed to a coaching session with me.

It was time to do what I call 'firing a potential client'.

I have learned to develop a rule of thumb for life - Hell Yeah! or No (I learned this from Rich Litvin).

Potential clients who are not yet a Hell Yeah! to work with me are not where I choose to invest my energy.

Sometimes it's just great to help those people become either a firm yes or a firm no.

So I resisted the urge to send a long email and wrote...

"Call me. I need five minutes of your time. That is all it will take."

When he called, I explained that for the moment we should take this session off the table.

Maybe coaching wasn't a priority for him right now. That's fine. I just want us both to be clear.

Well, sometimes people surprise me. He responded that he was keen to work with me and apologized for giving the impression that he wasn't interested. He grabbed his diary and within a couple of minutes, we had a convenient time booked.

The lessons I am outlining here are...

1. Your clients want you to lead because it gives them permission to be leaders in their own lives. Do not be afraid of stepping into your power as their coach when you are working with them.

and

2. Don't waste time playing email tennis - pick up the phone and call someone. it saves you both time and they will appreciate the effort you took.