What Problem Do You Want Solved?
Published: Fri, 10/19/12
CLICK HERE to watch the fourth (and last) rant video about
my old friend who attacked me for my marketing career.
Now, , let's talk about being a professional.
The year was 2000. We were settling a lawsuit following a
car accident in which the other driver was at fault. Our lawyer
was becoming more and more difficult to reach.
Phone calls would
take a day to return, then two days, then
three or four. The case was
dragging on and the medical bills
were piling up.
One particular day I spoke with the lawyer's secretary and
allowed
some of my frustration to show through. Her response
made everything
crystal clear...
She told me the lawyer was really busy with one of his
other
clients. There was a big contract negotiation and it was taking up
a lot of his time.
I'm sure it never occurred to her that to talk about another case
with a client was unprofessional.
And I'm sure it never occurred to her
that giving the perception
that someone else's case was more important
than mine was
probably not a good idea.
I don't remember if I kept quiet to her. I do remember writing
the
lawyer a letter saying if he was not going to give our case
the proper
attention we would find an attorney who would.
When people go to an attorney, or a chiropractor, or a counselor,
therapist, coach, astrologer, etc. they have a problem they want
solved. Whether it's a big problem or small problem is irrelevant.
It's a big enough problem to them that they're asking for help.
Those of us in the coaching profession sometimes forget the
role we
play in the lives of our clients. Often they not only
have the problem
that motivated them to find us in the first place,
they also experience a
sense of losing their power.
It's one thing to have the problem. It's
something completely
different to find someone who's willing to listen
and engage in
helping you find a solution.
It's what I've been telling my counseling students for years...
The most powerful support you can give your clients is listening.
Once someone feels important enough to command your full attention,
they begin to find new and different ways to fix their own problems.
If I'm working with a coaching client in a one on one or small group
situation, that person is the center of my universe for the time I'm
working with them. It's more than their having paid for the time and
attention. Giving oneself fully to another enriches both parties.
On the other side of the coin, I've turned clients away or referred
them to someone else if I'm not ready to focus on them or they
have an
issue that's beyond the skill I have to help.
It's PROFESSIONALISM. It's making your client's needs -
big or small - the most important aspect of your relationship.
And it means giving them the attention and commitment we all
want for ourselves.
It's not about having a degree. It's about making a
choice to
constantly get better at what you do and be completely present
for those who put their trust in you.
Go out and have yourself a magnficent weekend!
Professionally Yours,
Larry
P.S. HOW TO RECEIVE is my professional contribution to
people who want to stop treating their dreams like a fantasy
and start treating them like a possibility...something they can
actually achieve.
If you're done with the frustration and disappointment of wanting
but not believing your success is possible, then CLICK HERE to
grab either the book or the audio version of How To Receive...or both.