How do we start a coaching relationship?

TL;DR: The first step in building a coaching-client relationship is scheduling up an introductory session of about an hour to learn more about each other, where you want to go, and how I can help.  This introductory session doesn’t cost anything — you and I both co-invest our time and see where that takes us.  At the same time, I can send a couple of digestible emails to give a little more background on my coaching .  After this I can introduce the client to references if needed.  You can set up a this introductory call to learn more here. Or if you are ready to dive in we can schedule up our first 1 hour coaching call by emailing me at eric@ericmathews.com.

More Background on Building Our Coaching Relationship

I like to crawl before I walk and walk before I run.  I think it is incredibly important to be vulnerable and build trust for our relationship to work and for you to get the quantum leap level results desired.  Building that relationship doesn’t come easy and sometimes it won’t arrive at all.  And that’s ok.  But we’ll want to figure that out quickly through structured “dating” and figuring out if our relationship will empower each other.  I will see how self aware you are. You’ll see if I am self aware, too.  We’ll make sure I know your strengths and weaknesses and you know mine.  We will find our blind spots. 

Some things we’ll want to cover and consider and even try out during the relationship building process:

  • What do you want to get out of coaching?
  • Can we see each other in a variety of contexts and enjoy each other’s company?
  • Are we adding energy to each other’s lives when we are together?
  • What are the quantum leaps and the big ideas?  
  • Do we complement each other?
  • Are you coachable and am I the right coach?

Overall the right fit for those I work with looks like:

  • Willingness to dive deep and view all angles and aspects as contributing or holding us back from very big wins
  • Honesty
  • Humility
  • Grit and Perseverance 
  • Willingness to go to the “gym” (all of the gyms) and do the hard work
  • Curiosity and openness to learn
  • Realizing the journey is the reward . . . to celebrate success and lift each other in defeat.

My job is to make you better and enable you to serve your team better through enhanced self awareness and quantum leaps of goals and action noting that we all must be a servant to something bigger than ourselves. 

While I seek anti-bullshitters who work to end dishonesty with others and dishonesty with themselves, I am not without sensitivity to imposter syndrome and other fears that can hold us back. Our prior history shapes the present.  We’ll sort it all out together.  

Author: ericmathews

Eric Mathews is a leading business strategist, author, and coach. For over 20 years, Eric’s work has launched over 1000 startup businesses, supported over 10,000 businesses, helped open innovation systems at major corporations, bolstered entrepreneurship programs at universities, and advanced select civic and impact organizations in North America and beyond.

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