the special relationship
No matter what your niche is, we are all just humans helping humans
It’s Friday afternoon, the end of another week of engaging with business owners who are passionate and excited about what they're building - and grateful to have help navigating the often confusing and intimidating world of technology.
We're all experts in different fields but the mutual respect and appreciation for our unique skills and knowledge means that our conversions are supercharged with respect, excitement, passion and most of all - productivity and forward momentum.
I always leave the call recharged and excited about what we're doing - bringing their vision one step closer to reality. And they leave relieved, having released the stress and pressures that go along with trying to navigate the digital space, confident that they're finally moving forward, and maybe even feeling a little less lonely.
As a coach or business owner, I know you're striving towards creating the same special relationships with your clients and prospective clients, so I wanted to quickly share what works for me:
1) Listen. I spend at least 50% of every call just listening to where my client is, where they want to be, what they're struggling with MOST and what they desire MOST. They get to express their needs (and the needs behind the needs) and I get invaluable information that helps me create solutions that serves ALL their needs.
2) Communicate the whys behind your actions and advice. You may know them but your client deserves to know too. Communicating using words like "I'm listening, I want to help you achieve X so you can accomplish Y, I hear in your words that you need.." can go a long way. Sometimes we get so focused on the helpful ACTION that we forget to communicate the whys behind the actions.
3) Just be helpful. It sounds simple but if there's one reason I enjoy such positive relationships it's because I've made help my north star. Protect your boundaries of course, but don't be stingy or gatekeep your help. If a client needs a little something extra and it's within your power to, help. If a client is really struggling with a question off hours and you have the time and space - help. That's why they've engaged you.
4) Give *and* receive. This week I've had the privilege of overseeing different live and pre-recorded events that were jam-packed with experts in so many adjacent fields to mine that it felt like I'd won the lottery. The wisdom, the resources, the passion, the free guidance! Anyone who was a participant was able to ask questions and receive expert advice immediately. Give, give, give, but also be aware of the resources and business partnerships all around you that are there for the taking. (Ad if you're not already signing up for free events in your industry, you're missing out.)
5) Simplify what you do into human terms. Recently one of my clients - a vibrant value creator and mentor who helps people re-discover their core and unique value - reminded me that whatever our niche - we are all humans helping humans. So even if your expertise is technological, or scientific, or clinical - whatever you do can be boiled down into simple human terms. I build websites, optimize email marketing and social media to maximize conversions but in human terms I help people get past the technological blocks that have been holding them back - so that they can be happier, focus more on their business, and be more successful.
Use human terms to communicate what you do, and you'll very quickly attract and connect with the people who really need you.
