Level 1 -- Top 10 Coaching Introductions for an Individual Coach

1. Conduct “In-Home Coaching Intros” -- Invite your friends, relatives, and colleagues to set up coaching introductions at their home with people they know (see page 2).
2. Attend professional association meetings – Announce Coach Week and distribute flyers at association meetings inviting members and guests to have a complimentary coaching conversation or attend special Coach Week events.
3. Connect with Church or Synagogue members – Set up a table after the service to provide information about coaching to members and guests.
4. Ask 50 people you know to be advocates – Call 50 people that you have the best relationship with who are not potential clients and explain what you do and the benefits so well that they will be advocates for you and refer potential clients to you.
5. Hand out five business cards a day – Commit to handing out five business cards a day and give a compelling “elevator speech” so that people you do not know will get who you are and what you do and will contact you for a complimentary coaching conversation.
6. Have five meetings with potential clients – Review your Rolodex and contact five people who are potential clients and invite them to breakfast, lunch, or dinner during Coach Week.
7. Contact five professionals or merchants you know – Ask them for permission to leave flyers advertising Coach Week events and an invitation to contact you for more information about coaching.
8. Ask existing clients for referrals – Offer a gift of free coaching for a month for every new client who contracts your services for at least three months.
9. Have lunch with colleagues -- If you have another job, invite colleagues to lunch during Coach Week and invite them to have a complimentary coaching conversation and attend special Coach Week events.

10.      Be a star at Starbucks – Contact the manager of your local Starbucks (or other coffee shop) and offer to do an informational presentation one evening during Coach Week – and request that they put out flyers to advertise the event.

 “In-Home Coaching Intro”

A Level 1 Coach Week Activity

 Coaches should:

·        Contact current clients, prospects, friends, and/or family and invite them to serve as a Coaching Intro Host. 

Role of the Host

·        invite 5 to 10 friends/neighbors/colleagues to host’s home

·        provide refreshments

Role of the Coach

·        lead the session

·        provide handouts about his/her own coaching practice

·        provide handouts about the ICF-CT

·        provide Coach Week evaluation forms 

The day/night of the event, the Coach will:

·        conduct a 30-minute presentation/workshop on the Coach Week theme

·        conduct a 15-minute demo coaching session with one or two guests (or with the entire group)

·        conduct a Q & A session
 

The Coach will end the session by inviting all guests to:

·        sign up for a free coaching session

·        serve as a Host for their own Coaching Intro
 

As an optional added incentive, the Coach may also want to offer a “Host Gift.”  For instance, if anyone from the group signs up for three months of coaching, the Host receives a free month, or tickets to a coaching-related event, etc.

 Other things to work out:

·        Additional gift for Host

·        Outline for workshop

·        Method of promoting the event

Level 2 -- Top 10 Coaching Introductions for 2-5 Coaches

1.        Bookstore Event- collaborate with 2-5 fellow coaches to develop presentations based on the theme. Most bookstores require that an author be a part of this event. The ICF-CT will assist you in securing a published author or you can contact an author you know who has published a book related to the theme.

2.        Health Clubs- work with another coach and contact the manager of your local health club. Topics on commitment to wellness, health, fitness and sustaining long-lasting change are some ideas that might work in this venue.

3.        Chiropractor’s/Doctor’s Office- contact your Doctor or Chiropractor to ask if you and a colleague might present a coaching workshop that addresses making a change or achieving a goal they’ve been putting off.

4.        Libraries- contact your local library and partner with a coach to present a program on setting and achieving goals for the New Year.

5.        Chamber of Commerce- contact your local Chamber of Commerce for an opportunity to speak about coaching.

6.        Local Schools- contact your local school to see if you can speak to the PTO about how they can utilize basic coaching skills with their children to empower and inspire them.

7.        YMCA- contact your local YMCA and collaborate with a coach to present a 1 hour lecture or even a ½-day workshop based on the theme.

8.        Church- contact your local church. Offer an opportunity to speak about “New Year. New You. New View!”

9.        Community Colleges- contact local community colleges to set up an opportunity to speak about coaching, especially local colleges that offer graduate programs.

10.    Business/Small office- contact a person you know that runs a small business or office. Ask if you and a colleague might give a coaching workshop on better ways to work together and achieve optimal results in the workplace.

  Event Planning Checklist

Phase 1 (as early as possible): 

q    Create a list of themes you are passionate about.

q    Partner with a coach you know well, or who shares the same interests, to develop a program – for example, in New Jersey, Maria Sariego and Michele Carbone began with a vision of creating an event on career transition, enlisted a couple of other coaches, and created a workshop that attracted 150 people.

q    Test the waters with your local café, local library, a bookstore close to you, your Chamber of Commerce, your local school, a college, your friends, neighbors, etc.

q    Assess what you truly can do and get back to the venues you chose.

q    SEND AN EMAIL TO:

o       MELISSA THORNTON – ICF-NE CO-VP Marketing and Communications boldcolorlife@gmail.com with information about your event, using the following sample from an earlier New Jersey calendar as a guide:

Feb. 1, 2003 (Saturday) – 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Topic: Moving Forward in the Land of Change

Speakers: Carole Oliver, Edmond Antoine, and Mary Ann Ulrich, Professional Coaches

Location: Borders Bookstore, 530 West Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston

Questions: Contact Mary Ann Ulrich at 908-653-9550 or maulrich@ecpcoach.com

Please be sure to include the full street address and contact information.

q    Finalize approval of event (DATE – TIMING – SPACE - EQUIPMENT NEEDED)- with the people in charge of your venue. 

Phase 2 (weeks before event):

q    Create and send announcement notices to local media. Use the press release template provided for you.

q    Write or suggest an article to local media.

q    Invite your clients, friends, associates, and relatives.

q    Announce the event in your newsletter.

q    Ask speakers to publicize the event in their newsletters.

q    Develop and post flyers in local communities (post offices, community centers, supermarkets, merchant establishments, churches, synagogues, etc.)

q    Prepare a sign announcing the event and supply of flyers (100-200) to venues that are hosting the event for them to post & hand out to customers (if they permit this).

q    Contact venue manager for coordinating logistics

q    Identify and meet the coordinator for the event on the day you are having it

q    Review agenda and timing

q    If permitted, post a sign and leave handouts with the venue to handout to customers

q    Recheck meeting space

q    Determine location of book display area (if books are available). Determine titles and availability of featured books – are at least 30 available for the featured author’s books?

q    Arrange for a table for displaying brochures, flyers and business cards – where located?

q    Arrange for any special needs for the speakers – is a podium/table and flip chart stand available (you’ll probable have to bring your own flip-chart stand and paper)?

q    Identify location of restrooms, café, phones

q    Ask the manager if they have any questions and leave your contact information (and get their contact info.) 

One week before the event: 

q    Prepare final agenda and timing – send to all speakers and volunteers

q    Prepare introductory remarks (ICF-CT, agenda, and speakers)

q    Prepare 60 copies of the Evaluation Form – use sample provided for you

q    Contact all volunteers for the event and identify roles and time to meet

q    Greeter

q    Check-in

q    Collect Evaluation forms

q    Timekeeper – will signal 5 minutes before end, and at end of presentation

q    Photographer (optional)

q    Note taker (optional) 

Bring to the event: 

q    Blank name tags/bold pens

q    Personal brochures, business cards, flyers (holders for each are suggested)

q    Evaluation Forms

q    Speaker Handouts

q    Complimentary Coaching Sign-Up Forms

q    Flip chart stand, paper, and markers (optional)

q    In-basket for Evaluation Forms

q    Signs for tables and stands to hold signs (or make tent cards)

q    Chapter Brochures (will not be available this year)

q    Camera (optional) 

Day of the Event: 

q    Speakers and Event staff arrives 30 - 45 minutes before event for set-up

q    Setup:

q    Check-in with coordinator

q    Set-up of chairs and speakers podium

q    Reception table and name tags

q    Book sales and signing tables

q    Coordinate activities of all volunteers

q    Go over time signals with all speakers (five minutes, two minutes, end)

q    Passing out and collecting Evaluation Forms

q    Announcements

q    Location of restrooms, cafe, phones

q    Turn off ringers on cell phones, beepers

q    Intro/Acknowledge volunteers

q    Stay until end of presentation 

q    Agenda/Timing

q    Book sales/signing

q    Ask attendees to complete evaluation forms at end

q    Invite attendees to sign up for complimentary coaching session

q    Introduce speakers and ensure good flow and adherence to timetable

q    Pass out evaluation form

q    Collect completed evaluation forms

q    Collect Complimentary Coaching Sign-Up Forms
 

After the Event:
 

q    Write thank-you note to speakers

q    Attend wrap-up meeting with other Team Leaders and develop lessons learned

q    Summarize evaluation forms, provide input/feedback to ICF-CT Marketing Chair for reference when planning future Coach Week programs

q    With other speakers, determine best fit for assigning coaches for complimentary coaching session

       Reward yourself for leading an extraordinary event!

***Many thanks to the New Jersey Professional Coaches Association for sharing these Public Relations materials. Adapted by Melissa Thornton, C0-VP Marketing and Communications, ICFNE