Red flag: Signs a prospect won’t make a good client
This week's question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from someone who wishes to remain anonymous.
Hi David, I just purchased your Compassionate Conversion Flowchart, and I really love it and the audio training.
I was wondering if, during a conversation with a potential client, there are any red flags that would signal to you that this person would not make a good client, and that if they worked with you, they would not get the results they say they want. I have had calls with people so mired down in their problems that the only thing they “want” is a negative – they just want the problem to not exist but they can't see a vision for the possibility of their life without the problem.
Are there certain types of people that just wouldn't make good coaching clients? How do you spot them? And is it “OK” to wish them well and let them go?
Or is this some issue with me being unable to pull a bigger vision out of them?
Thanks, David! Xoxo
Hi and thanks for your GREAT question!
You know, I’ve been saying for years that people have the right to be as happy as they want to be or as miserable as they want to be.
You shouldn’t have to “pull” a bigger vision from anyone.
And a rule that I live by is if you have to drag someone into a program, you’ll have to drag them around. That’s not enjoyable for either party.
All this being said, there are some red flags to alert you that a prospect may not be a good fit for coaching.
1) Have they demonstrated a willingness to change? (You want a yes here.) In your conversation you should be able to identify their sense of urgency or their reason for wanting to change, and you should be looking for things they have already started doing to begin to change.
2) Do they take responsibility for their life and circumstances? (You want a yes here.) Generally someone who does not take responsibility for everything in their life is not coachable, and if you take them on as a client, you’ll be the next person blamed for their situation.
Always remember, that you’re looking for people who WANT to change…not for people who find significance in drama and despair.
PS: The Neagle Code: Directions for Life is a weekly no-cost program that is open to everyone! Each week, I'll select and personally respond to one question received via the above “The Neagle Code” page that I feel in my heart will help the most people. (You may choose to remain anonymous if you wish, with our full support.) It is my deep, heartfelt intention that ~ in answering your questions ~ I may provide you with the Universal Truths that in committed application, will set you free. Simply submit YOUR burning question at: www.DavidNeagle.com/ask-david to participate.
4 comments
Wow! Thanks so much for the amazing answer! It brought so much clarity and lifted a great burden.
Thanks again.
Your welcome Alma, love it when the burden is lifted. It wasn’t yours to carry in the first place. Appreciate you following me and for the post.
Hi David,
First, let me expand on my prior appreciation. I have experience a growth in my consulting business such that this month is headed towards at least a 50% increase over the largest prior month I’ve ever had in the 31 years since I started work as a technology marketing consultant. I ordered your next course out of Challenge Bug and have barely had a chance to get into since I’ve been so busy. I have had a quite novel inner process (for lack of a better term) come through or to me over the past couple of years. I’ll go into further at some point. Teaching this process and wondering how to proceed with it has been a quiet, but persistent inner pursuit. Your amazing persona profile has really prompted me to understand that what you are teaching is the pathway for me to bring this life changing novel form of mindfulness to the people who need it.
Second, my daughter had a break from her busy schedule. Our son-in-law was not able to join us due to last minute client requirements. He is a highly regarded sales consultant. I was telling my daughter about your wonderful course and work. She was very interested, if not for herself, for our son-in-law. I see that your Challenge Bug course is now online for $47. I will refer him there since I thought it was a great course.
So again, I thank you. I love that you give so much in a really low-key way. I signed up for another course on a tactical subject of interest to me from another seemingly highly regarded consultant in the field. He must be insecure about his message or methods because once I signed up, he bombarded me with 2-3 email messages daily, each one with some different kind of angle to sell me something. I wrote an email saying that some of their concepts were really good, which is true. But that if they didn’t adjust their marketing, I was canceling my participation. They continued. I cancelled. Then they sent a survey. In the “how likely are you to recommend xxxx services”, I entered a “0”. The COO of the company replied in shock at a “0”. So I really appreciate your courses.
I belong to a group of consultants in the Bay Area who network together once a month. We have a little section of each meeting to recommend something great. I will be recommending you on Challenge Bug next month. Great work, David. I’m really impressed.
In gratitude,
Lee
Thank you so much Lee for those kind words, and I truly appreciate them because it is how I have chosen to build my business and live my life; with integrity. There are many people out there who are going about it the wrong way, and I’m happy to say that I am not one of them. I’m glad you enjoyed my Challenge Bug program and it makes me happy that it has affected you the way it did. Would love to hear more about your implementation of these principles down the road. Keep on going!