5 Things That Hold Our Clients (And Us) Back

I spent the three days as a guest at a coaching conference in Los Angeles.

The weather, palm trees and people were wonderful.

Once you’ve identified the true block, you can figure out how to deal with it and find your way through it. Speaking of blocks, there are two kinds.

As I listened to many of the conference attendees and enjoyed conversations with several people a common theme emerged.

In life and in business people face an issue that holds them back from making a decision or taking the action they know is necessary to get the results they desire.

Two main dimensions exist that hold people back. I’ll share both with you in just a minute.

First recognize that while this directly applies to your life, it also applies to your clients’ lives.

Understanding these dimensions is the key to identifying what’s really holding you back from moving forward.

Once you’ve identified the true block, you can figure out how to deal with it and find your way through it. Speaking of blocks, there are two kinds.

The Two Blocks Holding You (And Your Clients) Back

Outer Blocks: These are the blocks most people talk about first when they explain why they can’t do something or what’s holding them back.

The most common outer blocks are:

1. Time – “I don’t have the time” or “I’m too busy”
2. Money – “I don’t have the money” or “My finances are really tight right now”
3. Education – “I don’t have the certification” or “I don’t have the skills”

All of these outer blocks may be real. They are the easiest to see and to point to.

Most often however, outer blocks are excuses. They are an easy way to get out of having to make a decision or change a normal routine or behavior.

Outer blocks are the surface issue, while the real issue is always the…

Inner Blocks: These are the blocks most people don’t want to deal with yet they are at the heart of the issue.

FEAR and DOUBT are two of the most common inner blocks.

These are harder to see for most people because they are much easier to hide or look over when the outer blocks are placed above and over them.

When you are facing a fear it’s much easier to say, “I’m so busy, I don’t have the time to devote to this right now…” Even when deep down inside you know that you can make the time and that doing so will allow you to take the action you really need to get the result you want.

Focus on identifying the inner blocks and work through those. Once you address them and deal with them effectively you and your clients will be in a much better position and much more likely to move forward.

When a client has doubt they don’t move forward. They will say things like “We don’t have the budget for this right now” or “I’m so busy for the next 3 months, contact me after that…”

Go Beyond the Easy-Out

These are all easy-outs. They aren’t the real issue. The real issue is the doubt that exists.

If the client has a real problem and you can help them to solve that problem they’ll make the time or find the budget. But if they doubt your ability or are worried that things may not work out and they are left to take the blame, they’ll find a reason (aka. outer block) not to move forward.

If you want to start, run and grow a successful consulting business it’s vital that you go past the outer blocks on the surface in your own life and with your clients.

Focus on identifying the inner blocks and work through those. Once you address them and deal with them effectively you and your clients will be in a much better position and much more likely to move forward.

When you move forward more progress is made and that leads to greater results and success.

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