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Where Do You Hurt The Most?

Started by Cristina Favreau · 10 months ago

Do you find out what your client needs before you start servicing him?
For example, if you were contracted for your letter writing services, would you get to work right away? Or would you conduct a preliminary interview with your client to find out:

What style and voice does he want ... Continue reading »

6 comments

  • Chris Johnson

    1 year ago

    Great post--as usual. @ my tendayeam blog I'm doing just this; it's WAAAAAAAAAAAAY more efficient to take complete information early in the process than it is to be surprised by gotchas.
    reply
  • Jenn Givler

    1 year ago

    I love this post Cristina - even though I do curriculum-based coaching, I always do a needs assessment with my clients. Everyone is different - and even though I work with many clients through the same lessons - we can tweak the lessons so that they are ultra-effective for each individual client.

    I engaged a coach a while back who did a needs assessment with me - I was considering hiring him to help me 1 on 1. I loved his insight, and resonated with what he said - but I wasn't 100% sure his program was exactly right for me. Instead of really engaging me and asking what my needs were, he just spent then entire call trying to pound my square needs into his round solution. It was quite a turn-off.

    I also agree with Chris - conducting a needs assessment really helps to lay everything on the table and helps me as a coach, really understand my clients - their needs, their thought processes, their priorities, etc... after all - the coaching relationship is about THEM growing!
    reply
  • Leanne MacRae

    1 year ago

    That's some pretty sage advice. I hope to incorporate it into my clinic in 2008. A New Year, a new challenge!
    reply
  • Cristina Favreau

    1 year ago

    Chris, I'm glad you agree and that you find the process works for your business.
    reply
  • Cristina Favreau

    1 year ago

    Jenn, sounds like this coach took you on a roller coaster ride. First, engaging you and getting you excited about working with him. Then, feeling a little threatened by your request for more information, gave you a generic pitch. That sucks for you.

    An assessment or evaluation will save you so much time and gives you a head start on the learning curve.

    For me, it's all about chemistry -- finding out if this is the type of person I want to work with. I need to want to work with the person just as much as they want to work with me.
    reply
  • Cristina Favreau

    1 year ago

    Leanne, thank you so much for joining the conversation.

    Please let us know how your clinics go in 2008. Good luck in the new year!
    reply

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