Last post I said it’s possible to get comfortable with elevator-statement moments.

The first thing to do is pray - well before those moments arise.  In your prayer time, ask to learn how to trust that God will provide the moments you need to accomplish His purposes (His clients for you) and His plans for your calling (your growth and establishment as a life coach) and your provision (income).  The alternative to trust is fear, and if you go that direction you will launch into situations and conversations and even business agreements that are fear-based.  The fear-based path is not recommended and probably isn’t your desire (i.e. don’t waste your time there).

Next, accept God’s grace as you learn to sense the Spirit’s leading regarding your opportunities to share what you do.  While you are boldly and faithfully sharing what God has given you to say, expect to make what feels like “mistakes.”  You make the “mistake” and the next thing you know, you are discouraged and need to remind yourself of the grace that covers your shame.  Accept that, stand up, and press on at your next God-revealed opportunity. 

An example of this in my first “I’m a life coach” conversations went something like this:  “I’m a life coach;  do you know what that is?”  Do you know what that is?  After saying this, I melted at the thought of how goofy I sounded.  Discouragement set in, and then grace, and I decided to change my words to “I’m a life coach;  are you familiar with life coaching?”  There.  Much better.  Works great.

Here is another example that required “standing up and pressing on.”  I was at a coaching conference and met a new coach who rattled off her elevator statement when I said “tell me about how coaching is going for you.”  Unfortunately her elevator statement wasn’t clear to me and sent my mind off in a completely wrong direction.  As a result, my follow up question was completely off-the-wall.  She replied with, “No,…” and then rattled off the elevator statement again.  I asked another question, she again gave me the statement.  By this time, she was truly embarassed and I felt her pain.  I thought, “stand up and press on, sister.”  Of course, I hoped she would revise her statement.  More importantly, I wanted her to be more sensitive (interactive, listening, aware…) in her future conversations so that her goal was true connection rather than “making the elevator statement.”

So next post I’ll talk about making true connection with potential clients and referrers.  In this one, hopefully you’ve heard my encouragement is to first pray and connect with the Holy Spirit about leading you to God-planned “elevator-statement” moments.  Then, step into the opportunity and accept grace in the process.  

After reading my last post, you possibly read Patrick’s comment also.  Patrick talks about how he’s thinking through using elevator statements and what will work for him.  He gives you a good example of what the process of wrestling with elevator statements is like.

Though there is undoubtedly more value to the process that this, creating elevator statements is helpful if for no other reason than it forces you to put words to what you want to say.  Choosing words in advance of a new situation (like one where you need to boldly state:  “I’m a life coach”), is what many of us need to do to feel comfortable when that situation arises.  (I know, there are many of you who are really comfortable with most anything that trips off your tongue - in many ways I envy that - it’s just not me).  So for anyone like me, just hearing yourself say the words (yes, even in front of the mirror or into the cell phone recorder for personal playback) can be really helpful.

But, is there really a canned, one-size-fits-all-potential-interactions statement that will be your ticket to success as a life coach?  I haven’t found that for myself.  Rather, for me it’s important to enter all conversations bringing my authentic self, hopefully including my natural curiosity and true compassion for who I’m talking with (I dont’ mean to say that I always accomplish this).  I find that being concerned about when to interject a prepared statement causes me to lose a focus on compassionate interest in the person with whom I’m talking - and I’m not willing to lose that.

From personal experience, I am happy to report that it is possible to get confortable with “elevator-statements-moments.”  You can comfortably and effectively communicate what you do - “I’m a life coach” - in an authentic manner that engages people and interests them in purchasing your services.  I’ll share more about this in my next post.

BTW, I invite you to participate in this discussion - please tell me what about elevator statements is working well for you and what your challenges are.  If you haven’t commented on a blog post before, here’s a great opportunity.  Click on “comments” below and follow the prompts to speak your heart and mind - I would love to “hear” your voice.

Today I shared in a coaching class about starting a coaching business.  At the end of the hour, a great question was asked and I wanted to respond more fully, so I said I’d blog on the topic.  This series is especially for Chris and Judy’s class, but the rest of you are welcomed to join in as well!

The question was about “elevator statements.”  You know - those really exciting one-sentence blurbs that you’re supposed to be able to rattle off at gunpoint, if ever necessary.  The words are so compelling that in the time it takes for a short elevator ride you have someone hearing your sentence, understanding your services and then begging to pay you for, this case, coaching.

This method of selling clearly works for some people.  We wouldn’t be discussing “elevator statements” if they didn’t.  Can they work for everyone?  I guess - in theory.  Are they worth the time to consider - to write and practice while standing in front of the mirror - especially in coach traning when you are learning about marketing and sales?  Absolutely, yes;  no question. 

OK.  I’ll flat out admit it.  I found it extremely difficult to write and use an elevator statement.  I’m guessing the person class today who asked the question was experiencing the same thing.  With a very sincere tone, he dared to ask the question - something like, “elevator statements; do you really use them?” 

Actually, for me, writing elevator statements wasn’t as difficult as using them.  Everything I came up with in writing, no matter how converstational I tried to be, it never sounded authentic.  The sound was stiff and laborious, and I always felt like I was being instructional and overly-explanitory.

My point in this post is to say if creating elevator statements is not coming naturally for you, know that you are not alone.  Don’t panic;  struggling with elevator statements is not a predictor of coaching business success.  

Please return to my blog over the next couple of weeks for ways to deal with elevator statement challenges.  After that, I’ll move on to an equally challenging topic for new coaches:  answering the question “what is your niche?”