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Ask the Master Newsletter Archives
Welcome to the previous editions of the Ask the Master newsletter.
On your left you will find links to tips and the how to’s of
running a Virtual Assistant practice. We hope you enjoy your stay
and if you have a question you’d like answered send it to submission@vatp.ca.
Ask
The Master
January 2006 Volume 5/Issue 1 |
Coaches as Clients
Personal and business success coaches can be ideal clients. Do
you have a coach in your corner?
Coaches have been long-standing partners with the VA profession, the
term Virtual Assistant being coined by one of the founders of the
coaching profession, the late Thomas Leonard. Coaches not only have
an increased awareness of the VA profession but also, generally, work
virtually with their clients creating an ideal business structure
for the client/VA relationship. Let’s explore this successful
partnership.
Warmly,
Mary-Lou Ashton
Master Virtual Assistant
Questions In This Edition
(Click on the links to go to that question.) What can I do
to improve communication with a client?
What is a coach?
Coaching is a consistent on going relationship where the coach
helps the client to implement new skills, changes and goals. Coaches
work with clients to identify and better define specific goals,
reach those goals faster and with greater ease. By creating the
focus of coaching around what a client wants to achieve; coaches
assist their clients to maintain focus on that which will make them
most successful. The synergy between the coach and the client creates
momentum to develop new skills, which translate to greater success.
They support clients in reframing limiting beliefs and growing beyond
them while remaining objective, the way a friend cannot. They can
offer a different perspective of the truth because of the emotional
distance the professional relationship offers.
What makes coaches
ideal clients to work with? Most coaches are sole proprietors
who work from a home office and also work virtually with their clients.
Coaching sessions are generally held over the phone while some do
face-to-face sessions and even use chat rooms. They use the same
communication tools – phone, email, fax etc. – as VA’s
and often have international clientele, which makes them ideal clients
to work with. This combined with their awareness of the VA profession
offers opportunities not always present with other professions.
In addition, because of what they do, they tend to have excellent
listening skills, good communication skills, are compassionate and
have a high level of integrity.
What
things may a VA perform specific to coaches? Most coaches
generally use specific tools and strategies in their businesses.
One is the complimentary session. These are free sessions offered
to potential clients to experience what a coaching session is like.
Quite often a questionnaire is sent prior to the session in order
to bring focus to the session. VA’s frequently schedule and
book the sessions, send out the questionnaires, provide follow up
afterwards and track results.
Once a coach has signed on a client they will send out a welcome
package containing a variety of documents that often include an
assessment(s) of some sort. The VA will manage the contents of the
package, forward to the new client, track returns and follow up
where required. In addition they may process assessment results.
What
are the benefits of working with coaches? There are many
benefits of working with coaches however the main ones are, as previously
mentioned, the way they do business in addition to who they are
as individuals. They are often open to setting up a barter with
the VA where the VA supports them in their business while the coach
coaches the VA in their business. Even if a barter is not in place
once you have developed a relationship with the coach you will often
find them coaching you anyway, an invaluable benefit! Coaches generally
have a strong professional community and their practice is most
often referral based setting a referral engine for your business.
How
can I connect with the coaching profession? The coaching
profession has a regulating body known as the International Coach
Federation (www.coachfederation.org)
or ICF and in addition to providing a referral service for coaches
they offer an annual conference with attendance of 1,000+ coaches.
They also have local chapters around the globe that meet face to
face and will bring in guest speakers.
CoachInc.com
is the leading training organization for coaches and also offers
a referral service for coaches at www.findacoach.com.
There may also be opportunities to write articles for newsletters
offered by coaches, which would provide additional exposure in the
coaching community.
Brought to you by
Virtual Strategies
and the Virtual Assistant Training Program
Making dreams reality!
www.vatp.ca
info@vatp.ca
1-604-483-3740 |
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