Hello, friends. Welcome to the Bright Morning podcast. I'm your host, Elena Aguilar. And in each podcast

episode, you'll learn how you can lead conversations that build connection and spark change.

If you've ever started the school year thinking, what if my clients don't know what I do,

then this one's for you.

So today we are digging into a question that comes up every year, especially if you are stepping

into a new coaching role or starting with new clients.

How do I introduce myself as a coach in a way that builds trust and sets the stage for a great relationship?

So you might be wondering, should I share my background?

Do I start with logistics?

Or what if I'm new and I'm still figuring things out?

And what if people don't really want to be coached?

It might seem like a little thing, just like the introduction, a quick intro, but the truth is how you introduce yourself can determine the trajectory of your coaching relationships for the rest of the year.

Okay, so here is what I see too often.

Coaches either rush through introductions or they make them overly formal and disconnected.

Coaches focus on their credentials or they try to sound really polished and they forget to be human.

And as a result, their clients don't quite know what to expect.

Or worse, they assume that this coach is just another person coming to tell them what to do.

So let's name the real challenge.

You have one shot to shape how your role is perceived.

If you don't shape that narrative, your clients will fill in the blanks

with past experiences. Some of those may not be positive. Now, a lot of us were never taught

how to do this. We might open up a conversation like this with a quick, I am your coach,

...