Hi All,

If you are a VA *AND* either work with coaches or want to work with coaches, you will want to be a part of the Ribbon Cutting Extravaganza Monday, June 7th at 5p ET for the brand new National Association of Virtual Assistants for Coaches (NAVAC)!

Intrigued? Register here: http://preview.tinyurl.com/3xam2a9

I will be a guest speaker at the Ribbon Cutting Extravaganza. I will be speaking at 5:15p ET about Success from the Inside Out: Overcoming the Fear of Having a Successful VA Business. I would love it if you would join me! I would also love it if you’d pass this along to your VA friends. This is an opportunity to be part of something extraordinary.

Kim Gray simply ROKCS! You know I don’t endorse someone or something unless I truly believe in it and the person putting it together. Kim has put together a fabulous support system for those VAs who either want to, or do, work with coaches. She understands what it takes to run a successful business and now she’s providing a place for you to obtain that support. Come and get in on the ground floor.

I am honored that Kim has asked me to be one of her speakers! Here’s the link again to register: http://preview.tinyurl.com/3xam2a9

‘See’ you Monday, June 7th!

To your success,
Cindy

With all the talk in the news about Toyota and its recall issues, it occurred to me that in my profession there is no recall! That is, if a coach fails to deliver, the client has little recourse except to move on. We all understand there may be extenuating circumstances that dictate terminating a relationship. Most relationships are terminated for two reasons: 1) They have succeeded or; 2) They have failed.

What this really means is that the selection process, for both the coach and the prospective client, is not just a preliminary activity, but a critical activity. How do you go about picking the "right" coach? Here are some steps you can take to make sure your fit with your coach is the right one:

1. Seek referrals from those who’ve had success! Talk to the people who’ve had that success. Ask them why they chose that particular coach. Was it because the coach had experience working within a particular niche or segment? Was it because the coach had received coach training? Was it because they resonated with one another? What was the reason?
2. If you don’t know anyone who’s had a coach, don’t do a general Google search. The results will boggle your mind! LOL I would suggest you to go to ICF’s website and do a search for the type of coach you’re seeking and start here.
3. Research the prospects you’ve acquired. Go the their websites and take the time to read about who they are, what kind of experience they have, and most importantly why they’ve chosen to be a coach. There should be a passion around coaching. How did the site make you feel? First impressions (whether online, face-to-face, or phone) are important! Did the site make you feel comfortable? Did you feel the coach understood your challenges and would be able to coach you through those challenges? Take the time to read the Testimonial page and see who is giving the testimonials. Are these people in the coach’s niche market? What type of words do they use to describe the coach and the coaching process? Do these words resonate with you?
4. Narrow the list down to two (unless you’ve had several people recommend the same coach). Contact these two coaches either via email or phone. Most coaches offer a 20- or 30-minute complimentary session. Take advantage of this! It’s a great time to see if you connect with the coach and to see if the coach connects with you. You can also discuss how the coaching process will work during this session. Now, if you reach out to a potential coach and they do not get back to you within 24 business hours (unless it’s a weekend) then you need to decide if this is the coach for you. This is the conversation that will tell you if you want to work with this coach. Have your questions ready.
5. After the session, take 10 minutes to record your thoughts: Did you feel a connection with the coach? Did you get your questions answered? Did the coach connect with you? Write down how you felt. Put aside for a couple of hours.
6. Sit down and pull out another piece of paper. Record now how you feel. Answer the questions above again. Do you still feel the same way? Compare it with your original sheet.
7. If you have additional questions at this point, reach out to the coach and get clarification.
8. At this point you can confidently go forward. Invest in yourself. Hire the coach!! Then relax and get ready to grow.

Want to comment on this article? Have a thought to share? I’d love to hear it!

—

©2010 Cindy Hillsey and Virtual Partnering

My good friend, Mia Chambers of Acumen Works, has just started a place for VAs to list their business at no cost. She consults with a lot of potential clients, and if they are not a fit for her she would like to be able to point them to her directory to help them find their ideal VA. How cool is that?!

If you’d like to list your business, click here and follow the directions!

Thanks, Mia! :)

Are you a Virtual Assistant who is looking for new clients? If so, you need to check this out: http://www.multiplestreamsteam.com/join/ Andrea Lee and her team are putting together an RFP system to connect potential clients and Virtual Assistant s. This is a no-cost service. Go join now! Andrea and her team ROCK! These gals are on top of things, and you all know I don’t recommend people/programs unless they are top notch.