Better Business Coach Podcast: Sales Training | Proven Education | Actionable & Downloadable Worksheets

Better Business Coach Podcast: Sales Training | Proven Education | Actionable & Downloadable Worksheets

By Matthew Pollard, Business Coach, Entrepreneur, Sales and Marketing StrategistBusinessEducationCoursesCareersManagement
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Better Business Coach Podcast: Sales Training | Proven Education | Actionable & Downloadable Worksheets episodes

  • BBC 015 : Differentiation – It’s Bad Business to Be Different “Just Like Everyone Else”

    In part one of this two part series with Dev Singh we explore the topics of personal branding and differentiation, and how so many get it wrong.

    Think that’s a lot? Just wait for part two!

    There I ask Dev to share his thoughts on one of the topics from session 14, packaging, as well as ask him to share his own personal pricing and packaging strategy.

    Episode outline:

    When trying to build a business, many want-to-be success stories spend their time focusing on “cool catch phrases,” “slick slogans,” and the colors of their logo, thinking that if they get that right, they’ll be on the fast track to business glory. While it would be nice if this was true, doing this in isolation, like so many do, will achieve very little or nothing at all.

    Dev suggests that focusing on these things can actually be your secret way of convincing yourself you are busy whilst procrastinating from all the important tasks involved in growing your business, such as learning how to run one.

    Branding and marketing – Where does differentiation fit?

    [Tweet “The experience that your customers and clients have and their relationship with you – Dev Singh”]

    Definition of branding

    Dev suggests that you shouldn’t just try to differentiate based solely on the products and services you provide, but instead incorporate the true value and experience that you offer to the client that no one else can.

    An expert “like everyone else”

    A common mistake for people wanting to be perceived as an expert is to follow the “me too” plan. This is a tick box process that includes things like create a fancy website, get great testimonials, produce a video, put together a quick book, and my favorite: launch a podcast. Dev suggests that these are all great brand assets, however, for them to work they need to be congruent with your history and experience, and you need to be ready to share them with the world, not hide behind them.

    Don’t get lost in the hype

    Getting an awesome website doesn’t mean people will automatically flock to it. The best logos, brand colors, and unified messages are all worthless if you’re not out there projecting it to the world, and you can’t do that if you’re busy creating your version of the next hyped-up method of getting success.

    Figure out your plan, find one mentor, and follow their advice.

    About Dev Singh:

    Dev Singh is a world renowned business strategist, executive coach, and entrepreneur specializing in brand optimization. He is also a certified coach, Master Practitioner of NLP, founder and director of strategy at Sketchpad Ideas, and hosts his own podcast, “The Life: Optimized Show.”

    How can I find out more about Dev Singh?

    Check out http://www.devsingh.net and http://www.sketchpadideas.com

    Don’t miss a thing:

    As the podcast will have sessions both in video and audio, make sure you subscribe to both the audio and video versions of this podcast.

    Here are the links:

    Video podcast – Click here to subscribe

    Audio podcast – Click here to subscribe

    So please subscribe!

    While you’re there, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE – leave a review and the star rating you feel this is worthy of.

    Thank you in advance.

    To find out more about me or the show, feel free to check out:

    My profile – https://matthewpollard.com/aboutmatthewpollard

    The full show write-up – http://betterbusinesscoachpodcast.com

    Items/links mentioned:

    1. BBC 002 : Part 1 – Who Wants More Clients? Then Let’s Learn To Network
    2. BBC 014 : Price Come’s Last, Let Them Decide And Packaging
    3. The post Differentiation – It’s Bad Business to Be Different “Just Like Everyone Else” appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

      19 min
    4. BBC 014 : Price Comes Last! How to Let the Client Decide Pricing

      I also discuss how to overcome self-doubt when charging higher hourly rates, as well as touch on the value of selling your service as a package or monthly subscription instead of by the hour. For people that struggle saying, “I cost $xxx per hour,” this session is a must.

      Episode outline:

      Why price comes last

      In session 10 of Better Business Coach Podcast, I discussed the five steps to selling business coaching without feeling like you’re selling. Since then I have been inundated with emails saying, “What if a customer asks about price? What do I do?”

      Yes, a customer can ask you several times throughout an initial consultation, “What is your fee?” or “How much do you charge?” So shouldn’t you just tell them? At least then they will listen to what you have to say and stop worrying if they can afford you.

      Unfortunately, this is not the case. Mentioning price before the end only gets the client to say or at least think, “I can’t afford that,” or, “I don’t think what you have suggested is worth that.” Well of course they don’t because you haven’t told them everything yet. You may not have even asked them enough questions to offer any insight. What makes things worse is that they then won’t listen to what you say and instead will be thinking about the price. They will restrict their answers to you because they don’t want to want to work with you or even if they do listen and respond correctly, they will analyze each point and think, “Is that worth the money?”

      So what do you say if they ask?

      Do you just say, “Sorry, I can’t tell you right now as then you won’t listen to me.” Of course not. Try saying something like, “Before I can give you a price I need to first understand where, and if, I can help. Then I will be able to work out a package and a price that best suits you. Is that okay?” I still have not had someone say no, and by doing this you are signaling that you tailor a solution to each client, and that you are in control. Both of these will assist you to earn respect and increase your chances of a sale.

      Getting over your self-doubt when pricing

      I had a recent call with a client, and he asked me how I got people to agree to pay my hourly fee, which was far in excess of his own, to which I responded, “How much do you charge?” He replied, “Like $200.” The answer was clear; he wasn’t congruent with his charge out rate.

      For me, I am not only congruent, but I think I charge lower than I should. So when people ask, I deliver the price and people just know it is the right decision.

      So how do you become congruent with charging hundreds per hour? I know I struggled with this, especially when I first started, as only a few years earlier I was earning low wages at McDonalds. Perhaps start by giving control over that to the client. When you get to talking about price, try saying the below:

      “When you thought about business coaching or considered using me as a coach, I’m sure you had an idea of what professional coaching would cost you. What kind of budget did you have in mind?”

      You will get one of three answers:

      1. “I don’t have a budget yet” – This means you are not talking to the decision maker, or at least not all of them. Turn the conversation to understanding how decisions are made, who is involved, and what they have paid for similar services in the past. Work through this until the client comes up with a budget, and then move to answer number three.
      2. “About how much do you cost?” – This person is not being evasive; they have a budget in mind. They just want to know if they are in the ball park so they don’t look stupid. Don’t fall into the trap of playing whoever answers first loses. Quote a range of prices depending on the amount of work and try to be as congruent about it as possible. Okay, it’s not ideal, but you have lost nothing by trying.
      3. “I was thinking it would cost $xxxx” – I hope you like nice surprises, because if you provide a good service and have mastered the art of active listening covered in session 9 and the Business Needs Analysis covered in session 7 and 8, you may find you get numbers much higher than how much you perceive your value, especially if they contacted you for your services. One recent client suggested to me that he expected not to get much change from ten thousand dollars for a service I was thinking about quoting out at $3,500. I generally find that clients respond with option three about sixty percent of the time and very seldom do I get a number below what I currently charge. What I have learned is that people value very highly the information I now take for granted, and I would suggest this may be the same for you. So when you are telling clients things that to you are obvious and therefore not worth hundreds of dollars per hour, they haven’t lived your experiences and may value the advice highly.
        • If the offer is acceptable – Simply respond, “I can work with that,” or pick a price slightly below what they have suggested and say, “Great, as my fee is only $xxxx, so we are on the same page.”
        • So what if you are lowballed? If the offer is ridiculously low, don’t be disheartened. They may just not have the money to pay anything more, or perhaps you didn’t highlight enough value during your Business Needs Analysis. So you can do one of two things: Take a second to re-explain the value and then tell them your fee, or suggest to them an alternative method of engaging you at a cheaper price, such as a mastermind group, webinar, book, online training, etc.
        • Package and monthly subscriptions instead of hourly

          When you charge hourly, people look at each hour and see if they got enough value. Also, they think in terms of what they get paid per hour verses what your fee is. Try charging for packages and subscriptions with outcomes instead of hourly rates with none. My Rapid Growth® Intensive Program is six hours, so I could say I am $xxx per hour, however, instead I say:

          “My program is six hours broken into three two hour sessions. In session one you walk out with a tag line and a unified message to speak to your customers. In session two we look at who will identify with this message and how to best speak to them. Finally, in the third session we look at turning this interest into converted sales by creating you a sales system that works. This program is $xxxx for the first six hours and then we work on a monthly basis at $xxxx per month with set objectives each month.”

          This offers three very specific outcomes for the money and in my experience is much more effective.

          Want to speak to me for free? Click here to access my calendar. 

          Keep me in the loop:

          I would love to hear how these strategies have helped you. Please take a second to post a comment in the comment section below.

          Don’t miss a thing:

          As the podcast will have sessions both in video and audio, make sure you subscribe to both the audio and video versions of this podcast.

          Here are the links:

          Video podcast – Click here to subscribe

          Audio podcast – Click here to subscribe

          So please subscribe!

          While you’re there, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE – leave a review and the star rating you feel this is worthy of.

          Thank you in advance.

          To find out more about me or the show, feel free to check out:

          My profile – https://matthewpollard.com/aboutmatthewpollard

          The full show write-up – http://betterbusinesscoachpodcast.com

          Items/links mentioned:

          1. BBC 010 : 5 Steps To Selling Business Coaching Without Feeling Like Your Selling
          2. BBC 009 : Listen and succeed, it’s that simple! Learn the 5 keys to active listening.
          3. BBC 008 : Part 2 of 2 – First FREE Worksheet – The Business Needs Analysis
          4. BBC 007 : Part 1 of 2 – First FREE Worksheet – The Business Needs Analysis
          5. The post Price Comes Last! How to Let the Client Decide Pricing appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

            20 min
          6. BBC 013 : How to Easily Identify a Client's Business Challenges

            This worksheet forms the first part of your first paid client session and is used to re-unfreeze the client to the fact that they must embrace change to fix their current business challenges.

            You may be thinking, “Why do we need to go through the unfreezing process again? Surely the client will want to get straight into fixing their issues.” After all, we did a full unfreeze in the Business Needs Analysis and now they have paid for our help. In reality, this is not the case. First, if you followed my advice in session 10, you booked this session two weeks after the Business Needs Analysis, and in small business, two weeks is like a decade. Their business challenges have probably changed and to be honest, they have probably forgotten what that challenge was and may be thinking, “Why did I agree to this coaching anyway?” This session will turn all that around.

            I find that by completion of this template, I know I have them. They are pushing me to move to the next template and go from watching the clock because they want to get back to work to watching the clock because they want to get as much done with you as possible.

            Episode outline:

            “Complexity is your enemy. Any fool can make something complicated. It is hard to make something simple.” – Sir Richard Branson

            This is a very simple worksheet designed to be short and sweet, but sometimes simple is best. This is not meant to be an intervention, so don’t dwell on anything. Just ask the question, accept the information they tell, and move on. You are just looking for low lying fruit at this stage.

            Question 1 – What are your major business challenges at the moment?

            This answer can be vastly different from the Business Needs Analysis, so you need to ask the question again. This question is highly important as we will link everything from the following questions back to this challenge to obtain a successful unfreeze.

            Most common answers will be:

            • Cash flow
            • Long ninety hour weeks
            • Lack of staff performance
            • Remember the lessons from session 9: listen, don’t interrupt, and whatever they say is the right answer. This is what’s really keeping them up at night and the key to your long term engagement.

              Question 2 – Rate each of the areas on the template using the scale 1-10 (put the number in the column which corresponds to the rating and the area of the business, 10 meaning things are great and 1 meaning things are bad.)

              Try to stay as content free as possible. We are just asking to get a general feel, so just get the number and move on. Of course, some people will not be able to answer without giving you a full story. Remember that they may need to get this information off their chest, so let them speak. But move on as soon as you can.

              Note:  If the finances are down it is often a reflection of other areas.

              Don’t be surprised when you get to internal processes and you hear the response, “What’s that?” When you explain that these are procedure manuals for sales, marketing, collections, recruitment, etc., you will generally hear, “What? I need to have procedures for all these things?” This should be magic to your ears as this means no succession planning, no sell-able asset, and in short – months of guaranteed coaching.

              Important – Avoid the urge to say anything; don’t challenge, suggest or hint. Just listen.

              What ever they tell you is correct. We are just trying to get their perception of where the problems lie at this stage. Take good notes though. What you think, see, and read between the lines will be valuable information for later. A good example of a time you will want to say something is when they tell you their customer service is great. All business owners think their customer service is great. All business owners are generally wrong, but bite your tongue for now and take good notes.

              Question 3 – If rating is “Needs Attention” or “Bad” – write down dot points of what you have noticed in these areas:

              Ask the client, “You said (category) was bad, what’s bad about it?” Then wait for the answer, however long that takes. If you don’t let them think about the answer, you may miss out on the real cherry that could mean months of coaching and a rapid change in the businesses trajectory.

              If they still say nothing, here are some ideas:

              • Finances – “Do you have regular reports?”
              • Customer Service – How many referrals their staff gets compared to when they deliver the product or service.
              • Internal Processes – “If I started work with you, what manual would I read to learn my job?”
              • Employee Performance – “Are they doing what you want?”
              • Marketing – “How are you getting your message out to the world? Is it working?”
              • Sales – “Are you getting enough sales at the right level of profit?”
              • Again, whatever they say you must go with. Don’t challenge them, as they learn from you and as their awareness raises they will discover things are not as good in other areas too.

                The re-unfreeze

                Here we bring everything that the client suggested as bad back to their major business challenge and explain how it is connected. For example, if they said their major challenge was cash flow and we find they said their staff are also an issue, we can then explain that cash flow is clearly an issue in part because of ineffective staff, meaning you need more staff that cut into your profit.

                The realisation that their challenges can be fixed is a massive relief for many clients. Don’t be surprised if there are a few tears. Now you are ready to move on to the next part of this session. This will follow very soon.

                Important – Don’t forget, if their biggest challenge mentioned in the Business Needs Analysis still exists, you must work on that in this session. No problem. You should have finished this sheet in just 30-40 minutes and you have plenty of time for other templates and helping the client fix their problem from the last session. You will probably find the problem fixes itself or the solution arrives during this session anyway.

                Download the “Where is My Business Now” worksheet!

                 

                Items/links mentioned:

                1. BBC 007 : Part 2 of 2 – First FREE Worksheet – The Business Needs Analysis
                2. BBC 009 : Listen & Succeed, It’s That Simple! Learn The 5 Keys To Active Listening
                3. BBC 010 : 5 Steps To Selling Business Coaching Without Feeling Like You’re Selling
                4. BBC 012 : 3 Steps To Effective Change Management
                5. Don’t miss a thing:

                  As the podcast will have sessions both in video and audio, make sure you subscribe to both the audio and video versions of this podcast.

                  Here are the links:

                  Video podcast – Click here to subscribe

                  Audio podcast – Click here to subscribe

                  I can’t wait to share this content with you; it’s going to make such a difference in your business coaching business. I am really looking forward to hearing the stories of success that you have with your clients.

                  So please subscribe!

                  I look forward to spending the next sessions with you helping you to make the best business coaching business that you could possibly have.

                  To find out more about me or the show, feel free to check out:

                  My profile – https://matthewpollard.com/aboutmatthewpollard

                  The full show write- up – http://betterbusinesscoachpodcast.com

                  The post How to Easily Identify a Client’s Business Challenges appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

                  21 min
                6. BBC 011 : How to Sell Through Stories - Take Your Selling to the Next Level

                   

                  In this session of Better Business Coach Podcast, invited guest and story master Aprille Janes shares with you the seven types of stories you can use in business and how they can effectively be used in marketing, sales and coaching.

                  Episode outline:

                  Stories are of vital importance in sales and coaching. They can be used to embed ideas, suggest a different perspective, and even help someone feel they are not alone.

                  But how do we use them in sales and coaching?

                  Let’s say we want a prospect to know we are good at our job. We can achieve this in one of two ways:

                  1. Tell them how amazing we are and be seen as big- headed.
                  2. Tell them a story of someone we helped to amazing success and allow them to come to their own conclusion.
                  3. Another example would be if we can see a client is looking at something from the wrong perspective. We could suggest this in one of two ways:

                    1. Tell the client they are taking an incorrect approach and hurt our good client relationship.
                    2. Tell a story of a past client that made a realization and wait for the client to do the same.
                    3. So what are the seven types of stories?

                      1. Overcoming – David and Goliath, or Sigourney Weaver in “Alien” – Apple’s First Macintosh Commercial 
                      2.  

                        1. Rebirth – “It’s a Wonderful Life” or Prudential’s commercial called “Day One,” helping people understand that retirement isn’t the end.
                        2. Quest – “Lord of the Rings”  or IBM and Lexus’ quest for the brand personification.
                        3. Journey & Return – “Wizard of Oz” or Corona commercials with tag line “finding your beach.”
                        4. Rags To Riches – “Cinderella” or Johnnie Walker – Scottish farmer to global business.
                        5. Tragedy – Not a good story to use in business as it’s not positive and doesn’t offer hope.
                        6. Comedy – Hard to do, but if you get it right it will go viral. Geico does this extremely well.
                        7. Another great example as promised – A Conference Call in Real Life 


                          About Aprille Janes:

                          In 2003, after 20 years as a successful business consultant, Aprille threw away her corporate suit to work with purpose-driven entrepreneurs. Today she helps them boldly leverage their stories so they stand out in this noisy marketplace. She is now a speaker, author, and podcast host of The Bolder Business Podcast.

                          Don’t miss a thing:

                          As the podcast will have sessions both in video and audio, make sure you subscribe to both the audio and video versions of this podcast.

                          Here are the links:

                          Video podcast – Click here to subscribe

                          Audio podcast – Click here to subscribe

                          So please subscribe!

                          While you’re there, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE – leave a review and the star rating you feel this is worthy of.

                          Thank you in advance.

                          To find out more about me or the show, feel free to check out:

                          My profile – https://matthewpollard.com/aboutmatthewpollard

                          The full show write-up – http://betterbusinesscoachpodcast.com

                          The post How to Sell Through Stories – Take Your Selling to the Next Level appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

                          21 min
                        8. BBC 010 : How to Sell Business Coaching in 5 Simple Steps - No Hard Sell

                          It has finally arrived! In session seven and eight of the Better Business Coach Podcast I unveiled the Business Needs Analysis, or what I’m sure you now see as the document that unfreezes your prospects to the fact they MUST address their problems NOW!

                          So what do you do next? Do you just say, “Okay, pull out your check book?”

                          Surprisingly, if you utilize the Business Needs Analysis well and you have mastered the power of active listening (covered in session 9), that might actually work. However, this session is dedicated to showing you how to transition smoothly and seamlessly into a paid coaching client, without feeling like a salesperson. In fact, I point out that behaving like a salesperson at this point will be detrimental.

                          Episode outline:

                          The 5 key steps to turn a Business Needs Analysis into a sale:

                          1. Summarizing your findings for the business owner:
                          2. On completion of the Business Needs Analysis with the client, if you listened to them well, you should by now know exactly what they need help with. The next step is as simple as telling them, while also mentioning that you will work with them for three or five hours to address it and then move to a more formal coaching arrangement. Below are three such examples:

                            • “From this analysis I can see that you are not sure where to take the business. My normal practice is to set up a 3 hour intake session where I take you on a journey to develop your great vision and strategy for the business.  After that, we will look at setting up regular coaching sessions so that you can achieve your vision.”
                            • “From this analysis I can see that you are having difficulty growing your business. My normal practice is to set up a 5 hour intake session where I take you on a journey to develop a great vision and strategy for the business.  After that, we will look at setting up regular coaching sessions to help you create great systems that will empower your staff.”
                            • “From this analysis I can see that you are not as profitable as you would like to be. My normal practice is to set up a 5 hour intake session where I take you on a journey to work out where the business is going, and then look at strategies so that you can be more profitable.  After that, we will look at setting up regular coaching sessions so that you can create a successful and profitable business.”
                            • Ensure that whatever you say is tailored to their specific need and that you don’t just copy one of the above.

                              The reason why this simple paragraph works so well is it tells them they need help and offers a simple way of trialing the solution you are putting in front of them.

                              1. Broaching price:
                              2. Don’t fall into the trap of mentioning price until this point. I know it is hard to hold back, especially if the client asks. However, if you mention price before this point the client will not be considering the benefits of what you can offer, only that the price is high.

                                1. Testing interest:
                                2. Asking for a sale is like walking up to someone and asking them out on a date. Luckily, it doesn’t need to be that uncomfortable. Start by asking a safe question like, “Would you prefer a morning or afternoon session?”

                                  1. Transitioning to paperwork:
                                  2. Don’t make the mistake of asking the client if he wants to move forward. Simply ask them something innocuous like, “Do you have an ABN/EIN?” which is something all business owners have. Then when they reply, “Yes,” simply say, “Great! Can you go and get that?” Then just watch them get up and get it.

                                    While they are gone, pull out your contract and start writing. This is known as the assumptive close, described in much more detail in my video “5 Pillars To Six Or Seven Figures – The Sales Process Demystified.”

                                    1. Get that paperwork signed:
                                    2. Never ask a prospect to “sign a contract,” simply run through the contract details and then say, “Just put a squiggle there.” This is much less scary and will provide you much more success.

                                      Keep me in the loop:

                                      I’d love to hear what changes this has had on your closure rates with clients. Please share your stories in the comments section below.

                                      Don’t miss a thing:

                                      As the podcast will have sessions both in video and audio, make sure you subscribe to both the audio and video versions of this podcast.

                                      Here are the links:

                                      Video podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                      Audio podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                      So please subscribe!

                                      While you’re there, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE – leave a review and the star rating you feel this is worthy of.

                                      Thank you in advance.

                                      To find out more about me or the show, feel free to check out:

                                      My profile – https://matthewpollard.com/aboutmatthewpollard

                                      The full show write-up – http://betterbusinesscoachpodcast.com

                                      Items/links mentioned:

                                      1. 5 Pillars To Six Or Seven Figures – The Sales Process Demystified
                                      2. The Business Needs Analysis
                                      3. Listen & Succeed, It’s That Simple! Learn The 5 Keys To Active Listening
                                      4. The post How to Sell Business Coaching in 5 Simple Steps – No Hard Sell appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

                                        19 min
                                      5. BBC 009 : Why Active Listening is the Key to Business Coaching Success

                                        Do you know how to truly listen?

                                        If you answered no, then this session is a MUST.

                                        Active listening is a critical success factor to selling and obtaining coaching success. To be a great coach and obtain clients with ease, you must always be listening to what a client is saying, as well as what they aren’t.

                                        In today’s busy and competitive world, truly listening has become a thing of the past. We ask shallow questions, and while they are being answered we think of the next profound thing to say. Of course that’s if we are not also checking our phone for emails, social media updates, and that call we have been waiting for all day.

                                        In this session of Better Business Coach Podcast I discuss the importance of active listening, explain how it assists you in asking deeper and more thought provoking questions, and share with you what Brian Tracy in his book, “The Psychology of Selling,” has coined, “the five keys to listening.”

                                        If you want your clients to think you truly understand them, feel completely in control of any sales encounter, and master the ability of asking deeper and focused questions, then this session is a must!

                                        Episode outline: [Tweet ““Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” – Brian Tracey – “Psychology of Selling”“]

                                        You have to be quiet to listen – As a coach you are paid to listen, understand, ask thought provoking questions, and advise. However, it all starts with listening. Many times, a coach destroys a relationship with a client unknowingly because they just don’t know when to be quiet. A client will say something, and then you hear your inner voice scream, “I know how to fix that!” or “Ask another question!” To be an exceptional coach, you must silence that screaming inner voice. You must learn to embrace the art of what Daniel Goleman in his book, “Emotional Intelligence,” describes as self-regulation.

                                        Why is listening so important?

                                        1. It is lonely at the top of any business and some clients just want someone to vent, brag or talk to.
                                        2. It allows you to listen for the feelings behind the words and the underlying message between the lines.
                                        3. It allows you to ask deeper, more targeted questions.
                                        4. Become comfortable with silence.  [Tweet “”Sales takes place in the words but buying takes place in the silence.” – Brian Tracey – “Psychology of Selling”“]

                                          Don’t be afraid of silence, as it gives people the chance to answer. So many coaches interrupt something profound because they can’t handle silence. Again, you must learn to self-regulate so a client has the opportunity to organize their thoughts, challenge their current beliefs, and view things from a new perspective. If you can’t learn to be comfortable with silence, this will greatly detract from your ability to achieve coaching success with your clients and drastically reduce your ability to convince prospects that you are the right coach to move forward with. I know it is difficult, especially when selling, however, it is a skill you must acquire.

                                          Brian Tracey’s 5 Keys to Listening: [Tweet “”Listening is the key to sales success” – Brian Tracey – “Psychology of Selling”“]

                                          1. Listen attentively without interruptions – The simple act of ensuring your client feels listened to creates a physiological change within them. Their self-esteem goes up and they feel indebted to you for it. To ensure they feel truly listened to, do not interrupt them to share your own ideas. Face the prospect directly, lean forward, nod, smile, and agree.
                                          2. Pause for 3-5 seconds before replying, even if asked a question, to:
                                            • show your client that you value what they said
                                            • hear the prospect at a deeper level
                                            • avoid the risk of interrupting the client (they may just be re-organizing their thoughts)
                                            • Question for clarification – Pause and then respond, “How do you mean?”
                                            • Paraphrasing in your own words – Shows the client you paid attention and were really listening.
                                            • Use open-ended questions – These are questions that can’t be answered with yes or no, such as who, why, when, were, how, what and which.
                                            • Take Action:

                                              As I have said many times before, this information will transform your coaching and sales success, while it is also a waste of time if you don’t use it. So:

                                              • practice
                                              • test
                                              • experiment
                                              • perfect
                                              • Go out and practice your new listening skills and notice the difference in responses you get from people when you listen well and not so well. I think you will be astounded.

                                                Keep me in the loop:

                                                I’d love to hear what differences you notice in the comments section below:

                                                Don’t miss a thing:

                                                As the podcast will have sessions both in video and audio, make sure you subscribe to both the audio and video versions of this podcast.

                                                Here are the links:

                                                Video podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                                Audio podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                                So please subscribe!

                                                While you’re there, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE – leave a review and the star rating you feel this is worthy of.

                                                Thank you in advance.

                                                To find out more about me or the show, feel free to check out:

                                                My profile – https://matthewpollard.com/aboutmatthewpollard

                                                The full show write-up – http://betterbusinesscoachpodcast.com

                                                Items/links mentioned:

                                                1. Brian Tracey
                                                2. Daniel Goleman
                                                3. The post Why Active Listening is the Key to Business Coaching Success appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

                                                  23 min
                                                4. BBC 008 : How to Leverage the Business Needs Analysis for Success (2 of 2)

                                                  If you haven’t yet listened to part one, this will not make sense, so please go back and give “BBC 007 : Part 1 of 2 – First FREE Worksheet – The Business Needs Analysis” a listen.

                                                  This is an exciting two-part series as I give away the first FREE worksheet you can use directly with your clients, available for download at www.MatthewPollard.com/bbc007. The “Free Business Analysis” is the ultimate diagnosis tool as well as an amazing sales instrument. In this session, I explain how page two of the Business Needs Analysis will allow you to delve deeper into the client’s problems, as well as describe the effect these questions will have on the client and how it will greatly improve your client acquisition.

                                                  Episode outline:

                                                  People need to be committed to change…otherwise your coaching will not succeed.  That is the purpose of the Business Needs Analysis; it puts the responsibility for change back on them. Put simply, they will be the one making the changes; you’re just the guide.

                                                  If you are familiar with Lewin’s Model of Change, this is the unfreezing step of the model.

                                                  Your best client will be one that wants to achieve results for their business and is really serious about it. So if you don’t unfreeze the customer, you will feel like you are constantly pushing them uphill while they fight you to go back down.

                                                  Don’t give away solutions; just highlight problem(s):

                                                  As I said in the previous session, the biggest mistake a coach can make at this stage is offering solutions and ideas. I know many people think that to prove their worth it is important to show clients you can provide solutions. This is not the case. You need to show that you can highlight, empathize, and fix the problem. You do this by using the Business Needs Analysis to diagnose the problem(s), show you understand how they must feel (see BBC 005 : Imagine What It Feels Like To Own A Failing Business), and finally offer stories of other clients you have worked with that you have helped with similar problems. Otherwise, you leave the customer thinking, “Let’s try out what they have given me to do first. Then we can look into using them as a paid coach,” instead of, “LET’S START NOW!”

                                                  Take Action:

                                                  This is an awesome worksheet, but again, as I mentioned in session two, a waste of time if you don’t use it. So:

                                                  • practice
                                                  • test
                                                  • experiment
                                                  • perfect
                                                  • So, go out and deliver some Free Business Needs Analyses. The more people you deliver it to, the better and more confident you will become at it.  It is confidence that wins the prospect and makes them want to be your client, so practice is key.

                                                    Keep me in the loop:

                                                    I’d love to hear how this worksheet works to convert your prospects into clients. Please share your results in the comments section below:

                                                    You may be wondering… “Ok, but what do I say to get them to take me on?”

                                                    Look out for “Summarizing Your Findings.” Don’t worry, it’s just a few sessions away.

                                                    Download the Business Needs Analysis NOW!

                                                    Items/Links Mentioned:

                                                    1. BBC 005 : Imagine What It Feels Like To Own A Failing Business
                                                    2. BBC 007 : Part 1 of 2 – First FREE Worksheet – The Business Needs Analysis
                                                    3. The Business Needs Analysis
                                                    4. Don’t miss a thing:

                                                      As the podcast will have sessions both in video and audio, make sure you subscribe to both the audio and video versions of this podcast.

                                                      Here are the links:

                                                      Video podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                                      Audio podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                                      I can’t wait to share this content with you! It’s going to make such a difference in your business coaching business. I am really looking forward to hearing the stories of success that you have with your clients.

                                                      So please subscribe!

                                                      I look forward to spending the next sessions with you, helping you to make the best business coaching business that you could possibly have.

                                                      To find out more about me or the show, feel free to check out:

                                                      My profile – https://matthewpollard.com/aboutmatthewpollard

                                                      The full show write-up – http://betterbusinesscoachpodcast.com

                                                      The post How to Leverage the Business Needs Analysis for Success (2 of 2) appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

                                                      11 min
                                                    5. BBC 007 : Introducing the Business Needs Analysis Worksheet, FREE! (1 of 2)

                                                      The “Free Business Analysis” is the ultimate diagnosis tool to use with your clients as well as an amazing tool for turning people interested in the idea of coaching into motivated and ready to start clients. In the first session, I explain each one of the personal and business questions as well as establish which of the four business coaching milestones it is focused on. This session is building on the foundations set in the previous session, so if you haven’t yet, you might want to go back and listen to “BBC 006 : 4 Milestones Of An Effective Business Coach” first.

                                                      Episode outline:

                                                      Most business owners that you encounter will not know what the problem is. They know something is wrong but will be clueless as to the specifics. The Business Needs Analysis is your new and amazing tool for finding out the problem. It is designed to be a discovery document to help you complete a full and well-balanced diagnosis. It also cleverly puts the responsibility back on the potential client to tell us the data. After all, if a client doesn’t speak openly we will get nowhere.

                                                      It is important to understand that business owners have genuinely come to you because they sense that something isn’t working, but they don’t know all the answers. It’s up to you to provide the guidance to uncover the true issues.

                                                      Sometimes you will see underlying issues; however, hold back from going into “fix it” mode. This is the biggest mistake a coach can make. They try to provide solutions to prove their worth, however, instead the client gets weeks or months of implementation ideas for free and now doesn’t need you. We have to take what they give us at this stage.  Later on, we can delve deeper and problem solve – when they are paying our bill. Until then, just focus on highlighting that they have gaping holes in their armor that they need help with, while also telling many stories of people you helped with similar issues and how they are now much better off. That way, clients will be thinking “I have to start working with them NOW,” instead of, “Let’s try out what they have given me to do first; then we can look into using them as a paid coach.”

                                                      Download the Business Needs Analysis NOW!

                                                      Want to Keep Going?

                                                      Click here to go straight to part two.

                                                      Items/Links Mentioned:

                                                      1. BBC 006 : 4 Milestones Of An Effective Business Coach
                                                      2. BBC 008 : Part 2 of 2 – First FREE Worksheet – The Business Needs Analysis
                                                      3. The Business Needs Analysis
                                                      4. Don’t miss a thing:

                                                        As the podcast will have sessions both in video and audio, make sure you subscribe to both the audio and video versions of this podcast.

                                                        Here are the links:

                                                        Video podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                                        Audio podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                                        I can’t wait to share this content with you! It’s going to make such a difference in your business coaching business. I am really looking forward to hearing the stories of success that you have with your clients.

                                                        So please subscribe!

                                                        I look forward to spending the next sessions with you, helping you to make the best business coaching business that you could possibly have.

                                                        To find out more about me or the show, feel free to check out:

                                                        My profile – https://matthewpollard.com/aboutmatthewpollard

                                                        The full show write-up – http://betterbusinesscoachpodcast.com

                                                        The post Introducing the Business Needs Analysis Worksheet, FREE! (1 of 2) appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

                                                        21 min
                                                      5. BBC 006 : The 4 Fundamentals of an Effective Business Coach

                                                        In this episode of Better Business Coach Podcast, I discuss the four pillars that a coach must continuously focus on to get success with their clients.

                                                        So sit back and listen to a full and detailed breakdown of each of the four pillars, as well as learn how each fits into the greater whole.

                                                        Episode outline:

                                                        1. Vision – How can you get to where you want to go if you don’t know where you are going, and why it is important? As a coach, I can’t stress enough how critical it is to know your client’s “why.” This is what you will use to keep them coming back to coaching when they get distracted or even decide you’re an expensive resource.
                                                        2. Strategy – Even if they know exactly where they are going, they need a step-by-step plan to get there.
                                                        3. Systems – For consistency and repeatability they need systems, performance measures and accountability. Without good systems, rapid growth will send them broke. Make sure when you’re looking at systems that you pay attention to the client’s sales system or lack thereof. If you’re an experienced sales coach, you might find helping here easy. If not, look out for my new podcast titled, “Get More Customers,” or if you need help quick, drop me an email at [email protected]
                                                        4. People – It is their staff that will help them grow, so hiring the right type of person, communicating to them correctly, training, motivating and inspiring will have a huge impact on the future growth of their organization.
                                                        5. Vision and strategy are the foundations of any business, and without them your clients will go nowhere. Creating good systems and people are an absolute must for anyone wanting growth of any kind.

                                                          Don’t miss a thing:

                                                          As the podcast will have sessions both in video and audio, make sure you subscribe to both the audio and video versions of this podcast.

                                                          Here are the links:

                                                          Video podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                                          Audio podcast – Click here to subscribe

                                                          So please subscribe!

                                                          While you’re there, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE – leave a review and the star rating you feel this is worthy of.

                                                          Thank you in advance.

                                                          To find out more about me or the show, feel free to check out:

                                                          My profile – https://matthewpollard.com/aboutmatthewpollard

                                                          The full show write-up – http://betterbusinesscoachpodcast.com

                                                          The post The 4 Fundamentals of an Effective Business Coach appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

                                                          13 min

                                                        About Better Business Coach Podcast: Sales Training | Proven Education | Actionable & Downloadable Worksheets

                                                        From the publisher's feed

                                                        A business coach’s #1 source for critical sales training, proven business coaching education, and actionable coaching worksheets, all downloadable for immediate use with your clients.