👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

If you’ve ever felt awkward, unseen, or like you're not in control during a client group session, this episode will flip that script. Whether you're leading a team workshop, a client strategy call, or an internal agency meeting — how you start determines everything.

Welcome to Say What You See — Episode 27

Hosted by Chris Marr, this podcast is for coaches, consultants, and client-facing professionals who want to lead with authority and make every meeting count.

That shaky start to group calls where energy is low, direction is unclear, and you’re not seen as the leader.

Why it’s worth your time:

You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to show up with confidence, take control of the session from the first minute, and create a dynamic group environment where everyone contributes — without it turning into chaos.

• How to bring “rock band” energy to your sessions (and why it matters)
• The F.O.R. Framework to clearly set Focus, Outcome, and Role in the first 60 seconds
• Why saying everyone’s name early changes the entire group dynamic
• How to use the Connect Method to manage the room and keep the pace
• Practical ways to invite meaningful contribution from every voice — even the quiet ones
• The energy gap most facilitators miss — and how to fix it fast

•  What’s one change you’ll make to how you start your next group session?
•  What question will you lead with?
•  How do you rate your current facilitation energy on a scale of 1–10?

Drop your takeaways, commitments, or questions in the comments — let’s learn from each other.

🗣️👀

Chris

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

Are you losing control of client relationships before they even begin?

If you're still relying on email or voice notes to build trust before that first meeting… you're only communicating at 7% to 45% of your potential.

In this episode of Say What You See, Chris Marr breaks down how to lead your client relationships from the very first moment—even before you’ve met.

This one’s for account managers who want to communicate with confidence, lead with clarity, and take control of the client experience from day one.

You know that awkward gap between a signed deal and the first meeting? That’s often where momentum, clarity, and trust fall apart. Chris shows you how to get ahead of that, build immediate authority, and remove client resistance—before the first call even starts.

When you implement this one simple practice, you’ll walk into your first meeting with the upper hand: trust already built, expectations already set, and your leadership already established.

• How to use the 7-38-55 Rule to communicate at 100% of your potential
• Why sending a simple Vanguard Video before the first session builds trust fast
• The F.O.R. Framework to quickly structure any client-facing meeting
• How to set expectations and disarm resistance before it shows up
• The No Stop Rule that saves time, boosts authenticity, and ensures you actually send the video
• How to lead with clarity and gain permission to facilitate from the first touchpoint

 Have you tried sending a Vanguard Video to your clients yet?

 What’s one way you’re going to communicate at your highest potential this week?

 Or—if you’ve done this before—what difference did it make to your first client meeting?

Let’s get practical.

🗣️ 👀

Chris

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

Always feel behind at work? Here’s how to reclaim your time and get ahead—without burning out.

Account managers and client-facing professionals are constantly juggling competing demands, endless messages, and packed calendars. If your days feel reactive and frantic, this episode of Say What You See is for you.

In this solo episode, Chris Marr shares the real reason productivity hacks don’t work—and what to do instead. It’s not just about efficiency—it’s about ownership. When you design your days with intention, you create the headroom to do your best work consistently, not just occasionally.

→ Always feeling on the back foot

→ Being reactive to clients, messages, and internal chaos

→ Lack of time for strategic, high-value work

→ You’ll walk away with practical strategies to take control of your calendar

→ Learn how to reduce stress, increase focus, and show up like the pro your clients need

→ Start crafting your days to do deep, meaningful work consistently

• The 8 principles for owning your time and setting up your workweek for success
• How to time block and plan based on your energy levels
• The “inbound triage” habit that immediately frees up your focus
• Why buffers are essential—and how to build them in
• How scheduling messages and using AI tools can reduce distractions
• The power of a shutdown routine to end your day with clarity
• A realistic path to becoming the most organised person in the room

• What’s one thing you’re going to change in your calendar starting today?
•  What tip from this episode made you think, “I really need to do that”?
•  Drop your takeaways, wins, or challenges in the comments—let’s build better work habits together.

🗣️ 👀

Chris

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

If you’ve ever felt like clients don’t take you seriously—or like you're constantly working to earn their respect—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Say What You See, Chris Marr breaks down the subtle yet powerful ways client-facing professionals unconsciously undermine their authority… and how to fix it. Whether you’re an account manager, strategist, consultant, or agency leader, these small shifts will dramatically change how clients perceive you.

 → You're being seen as a doer, not a strategic partner

 → You’ve never thought much about your job title, calendar naming, or intro scripts

 → Your clients aren’t ready to follow your lead—and you’re not sure why

 → You’ll learn simple, immediate tweaks that position you as a trusted peer

 → You’ll increase client respect before the first meeting

 → You’ll walk away with language, systems, and tools to own your positioning

• Why your job title is your first marketing message—and how to fix it
• How to craft your credibility statement and teach others to introduce you with authority
• What to call your client sessions to command more respect and attention
• How to set session cadence and expectations from day one
• The powerful 7-38-55 Rule and why video matters more than you think
• How to upgrade your LinkedIn, email signature, and website bio for consistent authority

 — What small tweak are you making today to elevate your positioning?

 — What’s one thing you’re changing in your job title, session naming, or intro messaging?

 — Got a pre-positioning tip that’s not on this list? Share it in the comments to help others!

🗣️ 👀 

Chris

 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

Get my free resources: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/resources/

 If you’ve ever felt like an order-taker instead of a trusted expert — especially in your role as an account manager — this episode is going to change how you approach client relationships from day one.

Welcome to Say What You See

 In this episode, I break down the #1 opportunity you have to build a strong, high-trust relationship with every new client — the kickoff. This one moment can either reinforce your authority or trap you in a dynamic where you're constantly chasing alignment and struggling to challenge your clients when it matters most.

 👉 Feeling like you can’t challenge clients without risking the relationship?

 👉 Frustrated by blurred boundaries, scope creep, or slow progress down the line?

 👉 Wish you could prevent problems before they show up?

 You’ll learn how to proactively position yourself as a peer and strategic partner — not just a doer.

Especially if you're an account manager, this will help you move from “project coordinator” to respected advisor. We walk through exactly what to say (and ask) in those early conversations to avoid predictable problems and set the conditions for success.

🔹 Why “every new client is your best opportunity” to set the tone

🔹 How to lead with confidence using the Vanguard Principle

🔹 The 5 must-have conversations that prevent future headaches

🔹 How to address client roles, commitment, and expectations upfront

🔹 What to ask to expose red flags and align on success

🔹 Why tension can be a good thing in your kickoff process — especially for account managers who want to earn more trust

Download your free copy of the Client Success Conversations Playbook — packed with 16+ essential talk tracks to transform your client kickoffs: Get the Playbook at theauthoritativecoach.com

What’s one conversation you’re going to start having with your clients from now on?

Which talk track resonated most — and how will you make it your own?

If you’re an account manager, how are you planning to apply this to your next kickoff?

Drop your takeaways, commitments, or any questions in the comments — I read every one.

🗣️👀

Chris

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

If you've hesitated to ask bold questions in high-stakes situations—especially when a client is unhappy or considering leaving—this episode is for you.

This is Episode 22 of Say What You See, created for client-facing professionals—account managers, consultants, coaches, and agency leads—who are ready to stop people-pleasing and start leading with authority.

- You’ll learn how fear holds you back from the exact conversations that can save client relationships and solidify your authority.

- Instead of tiptoeing around complaints, you'll learn to step into them with calm confidence and the right language.

These aren’t just “nice-to-have” insights. These are the exact questions and mindsets that shift you from service provider to trusted advisor—and help you reduce churn, elevate retention, and build stronger partnerships with your clients.

• The inverse relationship between fear and effectiveness in high-stakes conversations
• How to ask bolder questions without increasing friction
• The shift from “fixing problems” to facilitating solutions as a peer, not a supplicant
• How to uncover the real reason clients are unhappy—using the “law of three”
• Bold, ready-to-use questions to reset or repair client relationships
• Why transformational relationships require tension (and how to handle it)

- Which bold question are you going to try?

- What was one insight that made you rethink how you handle client complaints?

- Have you ever had a conversation that saved a client relationship? Share it below!

🗣️ 👀

Chris

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

If you’re a client-facing professional still trying to figure out where ChatGPT fits into your workflow, this episode is for you. In this episode of Say What You See, I walk you through the real, practical ways I use GPT every day to do better work, faster — and how you can too.

Whether you’re an account manager, strategist, or consultant, this episode shows how to use GPT not just to save time, but to step into a more strategic role with your clients.

Feeling overwhelmed by admin, writing, and prep? Tired of being stuck in task-mode instead of showing up as a true partner to your clients? This is your playbook for changing that.

You’ll learn how to use GPT to become more valuable, not replaceable — and shift from order-taker to strategic advisor.

• How to treat GPT as your assistant and your thinking partner
• A smarter way to write emails, summaries, and briefs without lifting a finger
• Why roleplaying with GPT can prep you for tough client conversations
• How to batch your prep and create weekly headroom (without the burnout)
• Ways to use transcripts to uncover client insights and trends
• The importance of saving your best prompts to build your AI toolkit

• What’s one task you’re now committed to offloading to GPT?
• Have you built your own prompt toolkit yet? What’s in it?
• Which example from the episode made you think “Why am I not doing that already?!”

Drop your thoughts, takeaways, or your own tips in the comments 👇

Let’s learn from each other.

🗣️ 👀

Chris

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

If you’re an account manager who feels more like a customer service rep than a strategic partner, this episode of Say What You See is for you.

Whether you’re chasing clients for content, firefighting scope creep, or struggling to be seen as a peer—this conversation is packed with practical advice to help you shift the dynamic and step into authority.

• Too many account managers are stuck reacting to client demands rather than leading client relationships.
• If you're constantly playing catch-up, getting pulled in every direction, and unsure how to push back professionally, this episode will show you a new path.

• You’ll learn how to transition from a reactive, anxious service provider into a confident, indispensable strategic partner. This mindset and skill shift not only protects your sanity—it elevates your agency’s reputation and results.

• How to set the conditions for a successful client relationship before work begins
• The importance of staying 2–3 steps ahead of the client to avoid firefighting
• How to protect your scope without sounding difficult or resistant
• What it takes to establish true peer-level relationships with senior clients
• How to speak the truth early—especially when you spot red flags
• The ultimate job description for an account manager who leads with authority

DM me the word “account” on Instagram @theauthoritativecoach and I’ll send you the exact playbooks mentioned in the episode.

These include stakeholder management guides, objection-handling talk tracks, and more.

→ Which principle hit home the most for you?

→ What’s one change you’re making in how you show up with clients?

→ Are you acting like a peer—or an order taker?

Jump into the comments—I read and reply to everything.

🗣️ 👀

 Chris

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

👉 Get the confident comeback script: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EK1_u5hRjLIjxi9PmnwqWsNaUIGdZ8r6x1tvglofrYo/edit?tab=t.0

If you’ve ever walked away from a client conversation thinking, “I should’ve handled that better,” this episode is for you.

This is Say What You See, and I’m your host Chris.

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most uncomfortable—but critical—skills for any coach, consultant, or client-facing pro: how to stay calm, confident, and constructive when a client unexpectedly challenges you.

Whether you're dealing with objections in a sales call, resistance in a strategy session, or tense feedback from a long-time client, this episode gives you a tool to turn tension into progress.

• Getting caught in defensive or people-pleasing responses that derail your authority
• Freezing or over-explaining when faced with surprise client pushback
• Losing control of the conversation and the trust you’ve built

• You’ll learn how to instantly disarm resistance with a single question
• You’ll leave with a repeatable 4-step framework to handle ANY high-stakes moment with calm, confidence, and control
• You’ll be seen as the expert—even when the pressure is on

• Why client resistance is an opportunity, not a threat
• How to bring “Yes, and…” energy to tense conversations
• A simple script to flip objections back to the client (without defensiveness)
• The magic of Smile. Repeat. Discover. Disarm.
• How to move conversations forward—even when they start off confrontational
• The difference between being right and being authoritative

• What’s one pushback moment you’ve faced where you could’ve used the comeback script?
• How do you usually respond when a client surprises you with resistance—what will you do differently now?
• Drop your insights, takeaways, or challenges in the comments. Let’s sharpen this skill together.

🗣️👀

Chris

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

👉 Get the confident comeback script: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EK1_u5hRjLIjxi9PmnwqWsNaUIGdZ8r6x1tvglofrYo/edit?tab=t.0

If so, you’re not alone — and this episode will show you how to change that.

Welcome to Say What You See — hosted by Chris Marr. In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest unspoken challenges for coaches, consultants, and client-facing professionals: staying calm, confident and in control when client conversations get tough.

What this episode helps you solve: Many professionals crumble under pressure — not because they lack skills, but because their mindset works against them in high-stakes moments.

This episode unpacks how to shift your thinking so you show up grounded, unshaken, and authoritative — even when clients are stressed, emotional, or unhappy.

This isn't about being robotic or scripted. It’s about building the kind of presence that earns trust, keeps relationships strong, and ultimately gets better outcomes — for you and your clients.

- The #1 mindset shift to stay calm when a client challenges you

- Why defensiveness ruins communication — and what to do instead

- 12 mindset prompts to help you show up as your best self in every session

- How to stop people-pleasing and start leading with clarity and authority

- The importance of training your presence before every high-stakes call

- A powerful daily practice to rewire how you think, lead, and coach.

Get it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EK1_u5hRjLIjxi9PmnwqWsNaUIGdZ8r6x1tvglofrYo/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.hncvt65u8sff

Jump into the comments:

- What’s one mindset shift you're committing to from today?

- What would be on your own list of daily prompts?

- How do you train yourself to show up with confidence under pressure?

Looking forward to hearing what’s resonating with you.

🗣️ 👀

Chris