SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Chance Meetings

What are the odds that:

  1. The prospect you just called and left a message for at his work number is there at the airport when you are?
  2. That you each look up and see each other?
  3. That you are flying at about the same time from the same terminal and have enough time for a beer and dinner?
  4. That you chat for over an hour about careers, consulting, family, business opportunities together?  In a breathless, gushing exchange of optimism.
  5. That his direct report replied earlier in the day saying “we are not moving forward because we have selected another consultant” and he says “the meetings this afternoon did not go well and we are not sure how to proceed”?  Those doors remain open…
  6. That he misses his flight and you have to say, “I am so sad…”

Some Hollywood script?  No, a true snapshot of last week’s chance meeting with a good friend and a great prospect.  Life beckons, and we either dance or not.  We had a great dinner.  He missed his flight.  There are always consequences.  He was able to spend another night at home with his young family, and still make his meetings the next day in Dallas.  And they upgraded his ticket to first class.

(more…)

4 Principles of Selling in the Trust Business

Selling defines success. Nothing else is more important in your business. So what is this notion of the trust business?

Are you in the financial services business or the “trust business”? Your answer could well determine your success. The trust business is defined by what you provide for your clients. People hire you—or decide not to—based on how much they trust you. People reinvest or walk away based on how much they trust you.

Perhaps the idea of selling trust is new to you. If you think you sell products or services, you’re limiting yourself.  Here are the four principles you need to remember to be successful at selling in the trust business:

(more…)

How to Act With Courage

Excellence springs from courage, but not everyone chooses to be brave. These financial advisors share how and why they acted with courage, and how it benefited their business. Consider their insights into the nature of courage, and start using it to build your business, too.

Let’s start with a definition. The word “courage” shares a root with the French word coeur, or heart. So when you act with courage, you’re acting from the heart, from your inner instincts.

I define courage as being authentic, acting from your gut. You know when your gut senses danger or trustworthiness during a first meeting with someone. Courageous actions spring from taking to heart what your gut is telling you.

The brain is involved. But there are no decision trees. In fact, your executive center may stifle courage at times. “Courage has need of reason, but it is not reason’s child; it springs from deeper strata,” wrote Herman Hesse.

For instance, if your gut instinct is that a wealthy prospect is going to be extremely difficult to work with, it may be courageous to walk away. It may be good business practice to say, “I’m not interested in moving in that direction at this time.” But that might mean giving up what seems to others to be a blockbuster account. Do you focus on the dollars? Or do you do the courageous thing and listen to your heart and your gut?

Following are six examples of people in the financial services industry who have acted with courage. Perhaps you are facing similar situations.

(more…)

Corporate Coaching ROI

Whether public or privately held, most buying agents (managers and leaders) ask about Return on Investment (ROI). You need to. Some coaches duck the question by stating that coaching is a “soft skill” that cannot be measured. We disagree.  ROI can be measured and must be measured.

 

Every client uses metrics to define their success. Typically these metrics are connected to key practices for that group. Here are two examples.

 

(more…)

Exactly what is the coaching process?

Coaching is a process of 1) awareness, 2) action, and 3) accountability.
There is nothing scary or magical. It can be the highlight of your week.

When starting any coaching engagement we use assessments and an intake
conversation to help you develop awareness of your strengths. Awareness leads to action.

(more…)