I’ve heard some wild things this year about what makes you a “good” client.
Here’s a thought, maybe we stop referring to clients as “good” or "bad” and focus more on “right fit” and the quality of service instead?
I can’t speak for what happens in Barbie Land, but in the real world, you’re still a right-fit client even if:
you’re not a “hell yes”, “full bodied yes”, or ready to buy on a discovery call and needing to sit with your decision.
I’ve had just as many incredible right-fit clients who weren’t 100% sure on our first call as those who have been all-in a few minutes into talking.
One way doesn’t make anyone a better client than the other, similarly, one way doesn’t make some better at sales than the other.
They’re simply different decision-making and buying styles, and this can also vary wildly depending on the resources you have, what stage of business you’re in, how many investments you’ve made in the past, if you’ve ever had a bad hiring experience, as well as how solid you might feel in your business.
you need multiple follow ups.
See the reasoning above. I promise, not only is having flat feet normal in the real world, so is the need to follow up.
Someone isn’t a bad client or doesn’t not want it bad enough if they need a follow up. Again, you aren’t bad at marketing and sales because you aren’t making people tell you to give you the payment link without a follow up.
Follow ups are a normal part of the sales process, and in my humble opinion, they also show you care.
you’re doing your due diligence, having questions or insecurities, or asking for client references before making a large investment in someone who’s going to support you and have influence over your business and life.
Deciding to work with a coach or hire a team member is an exciting time and uplevel. This is generally also a big decision, time commitment, and large investment.
It makes you a great CEO and potential client to expect to be able to ask questions or ask for references. It makes you human if you have some insecurities.
I invest over $100k per year back into myself and my business, and I STILL do ALL of the above or expect the ability to do so when hiring someone new to support me. If anything, I have MORE questions and concerns at this stage of the game.
I hold my business to a high standard, I respect and am a great steward to my money, and I’m mindful of who has influence over my thoughts, decisions, and actions.
If that makes me a “bad” client or means someone isn’t good at selling because they can’t “close” me without my having a question, wanting a reference, or expecting a follow up, I’m not so sure I want to be a “good” client.
In my book, an amazing, right-fit client is one who:
takes care with their investments, business, and self.
Sometimes this means trusting your gut and buying on the spot (I’ve made those decisions, too!), sometimes this means thinking it over for a beat or doing tons of research upfront.
shows up for their investments, whether that’s showing up for their coaching sessions or to onboard the team member they just hired.
is open and willing to communicates needs, boundaries, feedback.
honors their agreement (i.e. pays on time, follows guidelines, respects spelled out boundaries, etc.)
takes personal responsibility.
This *doesn’t* mean the service provider doesn’t *also* have responsibility to show up 100% for their clients’ investment and to take their own personal responsibility.
specific to coaching: is coachable.
Coachable does *not* mean, does everything the coach says, yesses the coach, or never gets frustrated, angry, or triggered.
I’ll save the long-version of this for another post, but it’s tough to be coached, being coachable is more about being open to and trusting the process, and willing to participate and co-create.
NONE of what makes you a “good” client (in my humble opinion) is about not needing support in the sales process and with your buying decision or about being a robot when receiving support.
In fact, if I had clients who had questions and didn’t ask them before hiring me, or who didn’t use their sessions, or who gave me all the power and just “yessed” everything I said, those are the very things that would give me pause and wonder if it were the best or right fit (note: they still wouldn’t be a “bad” client!).
Of course, this is one post, and I’m sure it’s not exhaustive, but I hope this will take some of the pressure off you as you’re on either the potential client side or service provider side.
And, if you’ve been wondering if working together would be the right kind of support to help you make, sustain, and scale six and seven-figures, I also don’t think it makes you a “bad” client if you want a chemistry test first.
I GET it and want to put my money where my mouth is. I also know some of my best clients have come from connecting on free trial coaching sessions (my clients who came through a traditional consultation, I love you, too!).
You’re invited to join me for an exclusive Free $100k CEO Mindset & Strategy Session.
On this call, we’ll:
unpack your business and take a holistic look at what’s going on to identify the #1 mindset shift or strategy gap to close to increase your visibility, connect with your people, and bring in more right-fit leads.
get clear on a plan of action with simple next steps you can take right away to put you on the path for making $10k and $20k+ months.
Spots are first come, first served as I’m fully booked and busy supporting my 1:1 clients.
Whether or not we connect, I hope this week’s email will feel permission-giving for you on the client side when you’re looking for support as well as help you make yourself right on the service-provider side as people are navigating their buying decision-making process.
Wishing you your version of success.
