| Supporting
Clients in Transition Article
Many people limit how much they watch the news or read
the newspaper. They feel the media is a negative
influence that brings them down energetically and emotionally.
I'm just the opposite. When I use
a certain strategy, I find the morning paper to be a
wonderful source of inspiration and education. When
I work with my clients I often share the stories I've
read and the insights I've gained. In addition I use
my observations to further my ideas about society's
view of transition and career change.
If you haven't seen your newspaper as a resource for
your coaching business, here are some ideas to consider.
- Scan the paper for inspirational stories.
Search the headlines for stories about people who
have pioneering careers, unusual passions, or amazing
lives. Look for people who have conquered a hardship,
transformed the lives of others, or helped the environment
in some way.
~~ Stories such as these can serve to inspire
you. Starting and building a viable business
is not always easy. Knowing someone else has done
something unusual gives us the strength and motivation
to reach toward our own goals.
~~ Often sharing a true inspirational story
with a client has a stronger impact than conversations
about the very same notions. As you
read an article, think of your current clients who
may benefit from hearing about the story. Make a note
in their file to pass the information to them in your
next session.
- Read stories about people in transition.
Whether an event has just happened or the
article is a look back at a difficult time, you can
learn a lot from the story. Pay attention to the quotes.
What is the person experiencing? How do they describe
their experience? What have they learned? How are
they moving forward?
You can use your observations in several ways:
~~ Use the article as a window into how our
culture handles various transitions. Are
the people in transition stoic, emotional, fearful,
or full of faith? What advice are they getting from
'experts?' Does the advice make sense to you? Can
you tell where they are in their transition process?
~~ Use the person in the story as a case study.
How would you approach this person if they were your
client? What questions would you ask? What support
would you offer? What information or resources might
they need to move through their situation?
- Use the newspaper to track trends, fads,
and current events in your community.
After watching the paper this way over a
period of time, you'll start to pick up on trends
and patterns. You'll also have your finger on the
pulse of your community as events unfold.
~~ This level of awareness is crucial if you
want to use press releases to get exposure for your
business. How can you tie your expertise
and services to the stories your paper is running?
What spin can you put on the coverage of
this event that highlights your expertise in the area.
~~ Another outcome may be the possibility
of repackaging your services to meet a need that's
developing in your community. Perhaps you
identify a key niche that no one else is addressing.
Ideas like these come out of a deep
understanding of your community that grows over time.
- Attend to major stories.
Historical milestones (60th Anniversary of
D-Day, Reagan's funeral), large scale events (9/11,
war), regional disasters (floods, hurricanes) and
other stories that impact entire regions are important
events to follow as well. Within every major story
are a myriad of personal transitions.
~~ These significant events provide another
opportunity to observe how our culture handles transitions.
The language, the images, the quotes, and the descriptions
speak volumes to those looking at the transition process
itself. The more you understand society's ways of
dealing with transitions, the more you will understand
the pressures your clients feel when they are in the
midst of transition.
~~ Your clients live, work, love, and dream
within the context of these large scale transitions.
Their psyche's are impacted--whether consciously or
unconsciously--by the events happening around them.
Be prepared to make the link if they aren't seeing
the impact themselves.
One extra benefit...
If you use your newspaper for your business and you
pay for it with business funds, you can most likely
deduct the expense. Talk with your accountant if you
have questions.
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