Like any business, coaching comes with some ‘dos and don'ts’, advice that filters from the most successful downwards. These are things like, make sure to build your mailing list, speak at as many events as you can and know your niche market, etc etc.
Many of the tips are valid, but this week I did a quick authenticity scan on myself and discovered that one piece of advice really jars with me. So I decided to own it, to put it out there and call myself on it.
The advice is to do with being consistent.
As coaches, the importance of being consistent with emailing newsletters is hammered into us. It’s part of maintaining visibility and contact with those who’re interested in what you have to say. This however, is one of the things that I have always struggled with, because guess what, I don’t really do consistency.
My nature is loyal, solid, reliable, but damn can I be unpredictable. Do I always have something I want to say? No. Do I always want to send people emails? No.
A big part of what I do is about being genuine. My clients, and even those on my mailing list whom I’ve never worked with, know that I’m always available for direct contact when needed. Who I am at this stage of my life, means that sometimes weekly contact just isn’t on the agenda. I’m simply not feeling it and I always tell people to listen to how they feel.
Consistency is all well and good and I have a lot of respect for those who can and want to maintain it. For me however, it errs too close to routine and if you see my name in your inbox, I really want you to know that there’s something going down – something you’ve got to know or think about, something I don’t want you to miss.
I’m subscribed to a few coaches myself and I have to say, there is only one who week-to-week, has something genuinely unmissable to share.
So guys, if you’re on my list, you might hear from me once a week, maybe once every two weeks, even once a month. By nature I will only talk when I have something I really, really want to say.
I want you to think about all the advice, rules and help that you’re given in your own life or business. Is there anything in there that actually means working in a way that a) is the antithesis of who you are and b) isn’t entirely essential?
If so, really take stock and if necessary, start filtering it out. Remember, you can always bring it back, but don’t force it when you don’t need to.