You're faced with a new sales coaching client with unrealistic goals. How do you set realistic expectations?
When a new coaching client comes to you with sky-high sales goals, it's crucial to ground aspirations in reality. Here's how to recalibrate their expectations:
- Assess current capabilities and past performance to establish a baseline.
- Define incremental milestones that are challenging yet attainable.
- Educate on market trends and limitations to foster understanding of what's feasible.
How do you approach setting realistic goals with your clients? Share your strategies.
You're faced with a new sales coaching client with unrealistic goals. How do you set realistic expectations?
When a new coaching client comes to you with sky-high sales goals, it's crucial to ground aspirations in reality. Here's how to recalibrate their expectations:
- Assess current capabilities and past performance to establish a baseline.
- Define incremental milestones that are challenging yet attainable.
- Educate on market trends and limitations to foster understanding of what's feasible.
How do you approach setting realistic goals with your clients? Share your strategies.
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When I first worked with a client who had overly ambitious targets, I took the time to understand their vision and underlying motivations. Ask open-ended questions. Identify core business objectives. Clarify what success looks like. And don't forget to Sell smart, close with confidence.
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When a client sets unrealistic goals, it’s a golden opportunity to reshape the narrative. Instead of shutting them down, I tap into their excitement to co-create an achievable roadmap. First, I ask them to imagine the ripple effects of their goals—not just success, but sustainability. Then, I reverse-engineer their ambitions into measurable milestones, blending ambition with pragmatism. It’s not about “lowering the bar,” but showing how smaller, intentional wins compound into the big picture. This approach keeps their fire alive while anchoring it to reality. Unrealistic? Maybe. Impossible? Not when aligned with meaningful progress.
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