By Shannon Lutz

You loved our chat yesterday on Instagram about how I put in the work to be a great client to my own coach, so I’m breaking it down even deeper so you can take these methods into your next session as a client.

I have been in your shoes; you click the “Book Now” button on your coach’s sales call calendar and feel butterflies in your stomach. You’re so excited to have the support but feel a little nervous about how much money you’re about to invest (that’s a lot of zero’s on the end of their coaching fee)! You ask yourself the usual questions: Will this be worth it? Will this coach get me to my goals? Will they really know how to handle a business in a niche like mine?

Allow me to let you in on a secret, coaches feel the same way! When a new booking comes through and we dive into a client’s details, our brains go into overdrive wondering how you’ll approach our meeting and how you’ll prepare for major success. Because I’ve been on both sides of the Zoom call, I want to share my favorite tips for being an awesome client for your coach.

1. Flip the Script

We typically have looming questions before a coaching call, and while they’re totally justified you’ve got an opportunity to turn those questions around. Start your pre-coaching prep by asking yourself the big “why’s.”

Why are you starting or continuing coaching?

What would make you feel the most confident moving forward after your session?

Why do you think your goals are achievable in your niche?

How will you ensure that you’re walking in ready to work?

Knowing the answer to these questions is a big help for starting your coaching session on an efficient note, as you’re doing much of the introductory work ahead of time.

2. Create Confidence in Your Goals

Set aside time before you meet with your coach to determine what you really want for your business. Your big goals are great- I’m looking at you Ms. “Six Figure Launch”- but remember that big success is built on smaller achievements, so don’t leave out the details in your goal setting. Work your way down and create a list of actionable goals that you can hand off to your coach so you can spend your coaching session working on the details of getting to your goals.

This is very much a “dream car” scenario. As a coach I want you to come to me with your dream car in mind, knowing the color, body style, and destination that would set your soul on fire. Then together we work through the details so I can help you choose the specific features you need while drawing out your roadmap to success.

3. Prep the Data

With your list of goals established, back it up with the hard data from your last quarter along with customer feedback. When your coach asks for the details of your last launch or your open rate on emails, you’ll want to have those stats handy. Take some time to run through the numbers and collect any additional information that might be brought up in your coaching session. I recommend having your most recent data, financials, and audience feedback in one place for quick access during your meeting.

I’m going to reveal my nerdy side here (okay, probably not that much of a “reveal”) but nothing makes me happier than when a client comes into a session with the numbers ready to go, it saves time for us and creates more accurate predictions as we plan out her next major moves

4. Be Ready for Anything

Your coach is truly your sounding board, and they should always be ready to listen with open ears. However, it’s important that as clients we approach sessions with the same readiness to hear them out. I can tell you that from a coach’s perspective, you’ll get the best value out of your session when you’re flexible and willing to change direction when needed.

The great thing about a coach is that they see you, even when things feel unclear on your end. Have faith in the fact that your coach may very well shift your focus during your session, especially if you arrive with those well thought out goals in hand.

Additionally, as you’re in the thick of your contract, remember that your coach is responsible TO you – not FOR you. They will create the playbook and real-time support, you are the player that has to get out there and work. Oftentimes, when goals aren’t achieved, it’s easy to point the finger. Go into this contract knowing your coach’s strengths, and adjust expectations accordingly.

If you’re hungry for more marketing exposure, seek out that strength. More business structure & brainiac strategy, seek out that strength. More mindset & confidence in your biz, seek out that strength.

While all coaches have multiple sides and “sub-strengths”, it’s common to look to them for holistic business and self development across the board, and then be disappointed when they can’t deliver. This is where an intensive with another coach (who has that main strength) or expanding your team comes into play.

5. Have a Plan to Regroup

The time after your coaching session wraps up is such always such an exciting period of clarity, so don’t waste it! Block off some personal time to regroup and review the notes and plans you’ve created.

I take this time to expand on my session with my coach by creating a presentation that covers everything we worked on- yes, we’re talking slides and all. This is a great exercise for solidifying the plan of action in your own mind and can be a great place to circle back to with your coach.

Now that you’re prepped and primed for your next coaching session, it’s just a matter of time before you are your coach’s star client!

The TLDR version: Ensure that you’re clear on what YOU want for your business, life, health, etc. This will help you pick the correct coach out of the gate + ask the best questions in the interview process. Clear focuses for calls, and expectations across the board, set everyone up for success!

For those of you with business partners and employees, tack on some time to figure out how you can best share these updates with your team. Whether you want to hold a meeting or send out a condensed version of your coaching session notes, make sure you keep your communications clear so your team can execute without getting bogged down with superfluous information.