- Life Coaching
- Wendy's eBooks
- Discovery Session
- Discovery Coaching Call
How Can I Structure A Discovery Coaching Call?
If you’ve ever finished a “free discovery call” or trial session feeling drained (and still not sure whether the person will sign up). You are not alone.
The shift that changed everything for me, was figuring out the power of presenting the call to prospective clients as an "assessment".
This meant:
- you get to know each other
- you get to know what the client expects from coaching
- both of you decide whether to go ahead.
A discovery coaching call as I describe below, avoided accidentally delivering a full coaching session for free (an easy trap) with no firm conclusion or commitment.
What a coaching discovery call is (and isn’t)!
A coaching discovery call is designed to help you and the prospective client assess whether your time together will be a good coaching “fit.” It’s not a hard sell, but it does need a direction—because “I’ll think about it” rarely turns into a “yes.”
The following steps summarize the basic life coaching discovery questions I developed and process that can be followed for the best result.
They are taken from my eBook, "Mastering the Coaching Discovery Session" which is a "go to" resource for coaches struggling to convert inquiries into quality, committed coaching clients.
Buy Now“Wendy’s Mastering The Discovery Session is a practical guidance for this crucial step in any coaching relationship. She shares the essentials for success including a checklist, success hints and ready-for-use examples to help you drastically improve your first exchanges with a potential client.”
François Bachmann, Coach and Facilitator, Switzerland.
What coaching call discovery questions can I use?
Step 1: Questions to prequalify the client before committing to the call
The purpose of this step is to make sure each inquiry is genuine and will not waste your time. Each of the discovery pre-call questions need to be followed so that you can be sure the client is ready to be coached and wants to be coached.
This means you have a structured, initial filter or “weed out” if they’re clearly not a good fit or not genuinely interested in coaching.
In your reply to their initial contact, send a form starting with the essentials: name, email, and the most important question, the reason they want coaching.
There are extra pre-session questions in my book and each will help you clarify their level of interest and provide a second filter before booking a Discovery Call.
Once a time is booked, send another short questionnaire and ask for it to be returned before you speak. This will save an enormous amount of time in the call itself (Word doc or Google Form both work.) Don't send a PDF because they will need to be able to write on the document.
Finally - always double confirm the session time the day before by email or text to make sure they are locked in or will let you know otherwise.
Step 2:
Open the actual call with a clear frame-up (2–3 minutes)
Start with brief rapport (a friendly hello etc), then explain what will happen in the session: you’ll ask a few questions, you’ll both assess if you are a good fit, and explain you’ll decide the next step at the end.
This keeps the call from turning into aimless chit-chat or too much free coaching.
Step 3:
Explore outcomes and motivation - what they want and why
This is the heart of the call and is where many coaches accidentally start “coaching.”
I cover how to navigate this part of the coaching discovery call in great detail in "Mastering the Coaching Discovery Session" with some hints and vital questions, in summary:
- “Just listen and take notes… resist coaching
them or offering suggestions.”
- Find out if anything is in the way of you coaching them.
- Help them discover the cost to them if nothing changes.
I include 9 vital questions and approaches that support you to create a successful discovery session, and convert them to a quality client. I also include some real-world examples of scenarios that you may need to handle.
Here are 3 of the key focuses of the coaching conversation that are critically important and which I explain in further in the book.
- If you could solve this (problem/issue/reach this goal) what would that be like for you?
- Here's what I would/can do to help achieve the outcomes/goal you want.
- Answer any questions they may have.
What to do in a discovery session when it's challenging you?
Sometimes, things don't quite go as you expect. Here are some real-world scenarios that I include you may need to handle.
- You feel they are a good match and you would like to work with them but they are still hesitating from committing.
- The session is looking like it's going to run over time.
- They are keen, but you don't think they are a good fit for your coaching.
"This book on a discovery call was
very helpful and easy to implement. I’ve got new clients since I followed the
steps."
Tope Keku, Life Coach USA
Interested in the full discovery coaching call template?
Before I developed my Discovery Coaching Call process, I had conducted dozens of sessions with prospects and the results were hit and miss. Creating a clear pathway to follow, suddenly increased my success rate and helped me to weed out "tire kickers".
The steps I have developed, proved and shared in "Mastering the Coaching Discovery Session" come from my 25 years' experience of successfully engaging clients. I'm sure it will also positively impact increasing your client base.
You can own it instantly by buying your own copy now and there is a 100% money back guarantee if you find it is of no value, within 30 days,.
Buy NowI have also written a range of informative books (all from my own 25+ years' experience) that will help you to authentically attract new quality clients, increase your coaching skills and promote your coaching services. Check them out and see if they could help you.
Only available as a 60 page color PDF.
100% Satisfaction or Your Money Back
I am sure you will get real value from each of these books. However, if within 30 days of purchase you are not 100% completely satisfied, you will receive a full 100% refund.