The message stood out in my inbox.<\/p>\n
\u201cHELP!\u201d it commanded.<\/p>\n
My curiosity piqued, I opened it to read the brief story of someone who\u2019d recently found himself in a new leadership role and wanted coaching support. We set up an introductory call for the next day. By the call\u2019s end, he\u2019d enrolled as a client.<\/p>\n
It was clear that he was driven, goal oriented, and had a strong personality. I don\u2019t remember if he called himself an \u201calpha male\u201d or if I mentally applied the label. Either way, there was a certain energy he projected that told me he was going to be an interesting client. Never one to shy away from interesting, I thought, \u201cI can handle this!\u201d<\/p>\n
And besides, my roster was a bit thin at the time, so a new client was a welcome relief.<\/p>\n
As you\u2019re reading this, do you see what I see?<\/p>\n
You\u2019re seeing what I missed (or ignored) at the time: The \u201cHELP!\u201d subject line should have been an immediate red flag. He enrolled too quickly before talking to other coaches. A challenging client is one thing, but if from the get-go, I\u2019m thinking, \u201cI can handle this,\u201d well\u2026it\u2019s not an ideal mindset. And finally, setting aside those warning signals because of a light roster? By now, you should be facepalming like crazy.<\/p>\n
By the third session, I knew without a doubt that we weren\u2019t a good fit. Sure, there were glimpses of connection and movement that offered slivers of hope. And I reasoned with myself, thinking, \u201cThis is an opportunity to shore up my weak areas as a coach. He\u2019s my client for a reason.\u201d (Are you catching this bonus red flag!?)<\/p>\n
I was hoping he would be the first to say it wasn\u2019t working. As it turns out, I had to break it off. Because of his communication style, I decided to do it through email, which proved to be the right choice. In the end, there was no ill will, only lessons learned.<\/p>\n
Yet despite those lessons, in the years since, I\u2019ve found myself in two more client mismatches. Except each time, I realized it more quickly and was able to bring the relationship to completion through conversation. In one case, the client wanted more consultation than coaching. In the other, I came to believe the business model they were attached to wasn\u2019t viable, and I couldn\u2019t see a way forward.<\/p>\n
The truth is, despite your best efforts, client mismatches will happen. How can you avoid them? The short answer: Clearly define your ideal client. Develop strong agreements and mutual expectations. Don\u2019t say \u201cyes\u201d from desperation. Trust your intuition. Be willing to say up front, \u201cWe\u2019re not a good fit.\u201d<\/p>\n