Psychology and Neuroscience Expert Ruth Kudzi is a best-selling author, a podcast host, ICF PCC business and mindset coach and one of the UK’s most successful Coaching Trainers.
Ruth is the Founder of Kudzi Coach Academy, training people to become certified coaches and run successful and sustainable coaching businesses, develop their coaching skills and become exceptional through the Professional Coach Diploma, DISC personality training, CPD and The Coaching HUB membership.
Alongside Ruth’s mission to deliver world-class training to coaches, she is also passionate about knowledge sharing to all, and her book and highly successful podcast provide her with further platforms to spread her messages of positivity globally.
She said; “The initial questions a life coach or therapist needs to consider when taking on new clients are – Is that person is ready, committed? Do they have a clear goal or destination? Do they know what they’d like to be different? Do they have the time energetically in order to actually take action?
“It is really about ensuring that the client is in the right place and that they are clear on what the intervention is and what it’s going to be about and how it’s going to help them. Where do they want to go and what do they want to get from this and that they are committed to move forward. Also, ensuring this intervention is not inappropriate, for example, that the client is not coming to coaching with a mental health issue, as that is not a coaching issue.”
Ruth works to transform the lives and businesses of her clients, to enable them to live the life they desire, and create businesses that work for them, rather than businesses, which totally consume them.
Here are 5 things to consider when taking on new clients…
Your ideal client
Consider who your ideal client is; what are their characteristics, what are they like and what are they thinking and feeling?
Be really clear on what you can and can’t do
If someone comes and you either don’t think you are a good fit or think they need a different intervention let them know (if a different intervention you can say you don’t think you can help).
Know your red flags
What are your red flags, when you know yourself some things will trigger you, for example; my dad was an alcoholic so if I had a parent who was an alcoholic, I may find it hard to be non judgemental. Listen to your gut – if you have a feeling about someone examine it – remember you are holding space for them so if you have any doubts about working together say no.
Commitment
Ask them how committed they are and what they want / need and make sure it corresponds.
Be clear
Be very clear about your expectations, code of ethics and how you operate and let them know exactly what to expect. Contract with them clearly and make sure they know exactly what they are going to get.
