There are so many different kinds of impact-makers.
Ministry and organization leaders,
Every client I work with has a different-sized vision. And each conversation we have Narrows down
The best way to make an impact within that vision.
The impact of listening to each vision always gives me new insights Into the problems different communities face and into the barriers in place that affect their impact.
I once approached every client believing I had the solution to their problem.
But it wasn’t until I practiced the art of listening when I really began to better understand their Purpose, and mine.
The truth is, coaching and consulting culture often have a copy and paste approach. An approach that’s often data-driven-
Ultimately appealing to he bottom-line focused entrepreneur and corporate visionaries.
In many ways this is effective. As the old adage goes if you want to be successful, do what successful people do.
But then the Details become blurred once you start to define what success looks like to you. No two clients of mine have had the exact same picture of success.
Some clients cling dearly to their privacy while trying to create a livelihood with their creativity.
Other clients want a megaphone on every channel possible.
Some clients went to grow a following and impact.
A big population over a short periodo f time…
Other clients love the idea of deeper connections with very few people over the course of many years, and live their purpose through it.
The nuance of these details from client to client moulded me into a writer, brand developer, strategist, and consultant. Through the years of learning businesses and researching impact, I continue to See the value of client-led conversation, and meeting them where they are.
There is another side of the copy and paste coaching model where those who don’t thrive under various definitions of success aren’t discluded from the conversation – unable to glean from the table of economic impact-makers.
How you define impact will be the measuring stick you use when counting yourself successful or not.
This became more evident to me when the pressure of raising my fees last year priced me right out of my market. I went back to the drawing board, sliced the hours spent on deliverables, and concentrated on a listening-based model for my slow start-up clients.
And it was a successful shift! The low-investment entry point positioned me as an accessible teacher and bouncing board, vs the more saturated fast-race, high-investment coach of the modern business world.
Listen long enough and you’ll find impact-makers everywhere. They are always looking to solve a problem or create something worthwhile. And often they are excited to share and talk about their ideas with someone just willing to listen to understand.
Implementing a listening approach to my offerings has improved the quality of my deliverables and more importantly, my client relationships.
