*** YES BUT… ***
MEANS NO.
Do you know what REALLY grinds my gears?
Taking time to give answers… to hear ‘YES BUT’.
Coming from a sales background, I can tell you that ‘Yes but…’ does NOT, in fact, mean ‘Yes I’ve processed the information that you’ve given me and I have another follow-on question’… It actually means NO.
Let’s think about this for a sec (because it’s something that I’m seeing LOTS of coaches struggle with right now!)
In order to get our clients the BEST results, we need them to show up and DO the work… right?
So we need them to show up to calls, be coachable, open, honest and transparent about where they are in relation to their goals right now – and why they feel that they’re not hitting it just yet.
However, what my clients are seeing a lot of, are calls that go like this;
CLIENT: I’m really struggling with [INSERT REASON HERE] How do I achieve XYZ?
COACH: Well, in order to achieve your goal, then you need to take [INSERT ACTION]
CLIENT: Yes BUT [INSERT REASONS THAT THEY CANNOT TAKE THE ACTION]
COACH: [SWIGS COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF GIN THROUGH A STRAW AND THROWS HANDS IN AIR]
Change IS uncomfortable.
Growth is even more uncomfortable.
But you don’t get anywhere fast by flat out REFUSING to move.
Now there are going to be some instances where you have questions around the strategy… or you want to raise the fact that it feels uncomfortable and you need more reassurance/ guidance on how to achieve the goal – and that’s absolutely fine 
You MUST ask for help when needed – and your coach IS responsible for showing you the true benefits behind taking the scary action.
Let’s also not forget, that it is OKAY to say no to your coach. You don’t have to implement the strategy that they help you with… but it’s your job then, to find a workaround that you CAN do.
Simply saying YES isn’t enough.
Think about whether you’re being coachable.
Whether you really want the desired outcome – and whether or not, you’re willing to do the work required to make it happen.
And as a coach? Start thinking about your responsibility to your clients.
Be honest with them.
Explain the consequences of them NOT taking the action.
Support them through fear and help them to make the BEST choices.
So if you or your clients are NOT getting the desired results, start thinking about whether you’re a HELL YES – or whether you’re a YES BUT… because despite sounding similar, they’re VASTLY different!
