Thursday, November 10. 2005
Keeping it all together: Organizational Wizardry
For many of us, our coaching practice is the first foray into self-employed business. Coaching is the service we offer. But the real business is behind the scenes – marketing and administration. For sustainable business, create a solid infrastructure that is simple to maintain.
Ten steps to sanity
1. Reduce obligations
Eliminate tasks during your work time that do not give you an ample return on your investment of time — fees, the right opportunities, professional development. Think of each hour of your business day as equivalent to one hour of your coaching fee. It will help you to make smart choices about your time.
2. Under promise and over deliver
Stop yourself from agreeing to demands and unrealistic time frames just because you want to please others. Give yourself time to think rationally about the consequences of dedicating your time and energy to it.
3. Get back to a clean slate every month
If your office looks like a cyclone hit it, your to-do list is long, and your email box isn’t cleaned out, schedule a chunk of time to catch up. Systems won’t hold up under a heavy load. Every day that your business is in chaos will cost you time, energy and likely money.
4. Optimize your equipment
Rather than spend hours fighting against your computer, software and phone system, take the time to make them work for you. Hire a competent computer consultant who will optimize your systems and teach you what you want to know. Shop around to find the right person.
5. Use professional resources
Delegate whatever isn’t your strength to someone who can do it faster and better – then you’ll have time to coach, increasing your income rather than floundering on a slow learning curve. Resource yourself with professional services such as a:
- Virtual Assistant
- Office Organizer
- CPA/Bookkeeper
- Web Designer
6. Set up easy systems and use them
You’ll need streamlined systems for record keeping, accounting, bill paying, marketing, follow through, scheduling etc. If designing systems that work well isn’t your forte, hire an office organizer to create them for you. Once you’ve got systems in place, USE THEM!
7. Use the one touch approach
This system works! When email or snail mail arrives, execute whatever is called for now – open it, respond to it, schedule a task, file it, dump it, recycle it. With communication from clients and colleagues do your best to responsibly but quickly get it back into their court. They will value your turnaround if it’s within the same day or hour.
8. Schedule everything
Put everything on your schedule (day timer, palm pilot – whatever you use). Commit to accomplishing what is written there. If you don’t, is it because it was too big a bite to chew? Delineate the task into bite sizes and put those on your calendar.
9. Stop procrastinating
Waiting until the 11th hour to do anything causes stress and can appear unprofessional. Since you’ll have to do it anyway, do what you can in this moment. To reinforce this habit, figure out your final deadline, then what it will take to accomplish it. Schedule and accomplish the bite sizes. Leave room for contingencies.
10. Use small bits of time wisely
Use the 5 – 15 minutes between clients to finish notes, put away client files, make a quick phone call, clear out email or take a small bite out of a big project.
Implementing these ten simple methods will make you an organization wizard!
Copyright ©2005, Bubbling Well – Rhonda Hess
All rights in all media reserved.
Tuesday, November 8. 2005
Making Your Website Work
by Rhonda Hess, Mentor Coach
Many coaches are underutilizing their websites. Often, it is because the website was developed without a well-conceived plan and with misunderstandings about what will effectively attract clients. Let’s uncover common misconceptions about coaching websites and replace them with a better approach.
Misconception #1
If I create a website that will appeal to everyone, I’ll get more clients.
The
Better Approach
Create a website that is designed to attract one distinct target
market.
Coaches that have sustainable and financially successful businesses have chosen, and are marketing exclusively to, a specific target market. Coaches who hang their shingle as a Life Coach or Business Coach without a specific niche will usually fail in their businesses within the first 1 – 3 years.
Your website will attract and pre-qualify ideal clients if it offers valuable information and services to one specific group.
Misconception #2
If I start by surfing other coach’s websites I’ll learn what I need to do for my own.
The
Better Approach
Unfortunately, few coaching websites are well written and designed
to funnel prospective clients to coaching services. Instead, start
with an introspective process.
1. What are
the three most compelling challenges and desires for my target market?
Write streamlined content that addresses those issues.
2. What message do I want my web visitors to get from my website?
Craft an authentic message that carries through all of your marketing.
3. What actions do I want my web visitors to take? Sure, you want
them to contact you for a sample session but most visitors will
need an interim way to get to know the value of your services. Make
subscribing to your ezine compelling and easy.
Misconception # 3
If I write content that ensures coaching will bring my clients “a more fulfilling life” that will be enough to get prospects to call me.
The
Better Approach
Dangling abstract promises of fulfilling dreams and goals rarely
produces results. Instead, design a marketing funnel – ezine
and other free information, mid-price products and services, then
higher end products and services – that will build credibility
and visibility with your target market.
Your website will be more dynamic–and work–if it is designed with all these approaches in mind.
Are you creating or updating your website? Get step-by-step guidance on how to create a compelling and authentic website with Mentor Coach, Rhonda Hess through her new ebook Working Websites for Coaches.
Comments
Sun, 01.04.2009 09:44
I am actually having an "aha!" moment right now, by finding this site. I have been trying to find my "calling" for [...]Comments ()
Tue, 12.16.2008 13:25
A favorite quote to inspire le aders: "They won't care how m uch you know until they know h ow much you care"Comments ()
Thu, 12.04.2008 07:54
Mark 9:23 (King James Version) Jesus said unto him, If th ou canst believe, all things a re possible to him that [...]Comments ()
Mon, 12.01.2008 17:11
Great Post - We really sometim es need a reminder of our Clie nt comes first after getting s o overwhelmed in our wor [...]Comments ()
Wed, 11.12.2008 19:20
Interesting Post. Thank you, I really enoyed reading this ar ticle.Comments ()