The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

Most of these tips assume you’re at some kind of party or networking function, but they can work for anywhere:

1. Keep your answers short and let them drive it e.g., “I’m a coach”.  They’ll usually ask follow up questions.

2. Speak of what you do for people, not about what coaching is e.g., “I move people forward”; “I work with professionals to grow their business”; “I help women expand their community of friends”; “I do A, B, and C for people”

3. They’ve asked ‘How does it work?’  Great.  You might like to use Agassi or Tiger Woods as an example.  They have coaches.  It’s not fixing their game; it’s about being even better or having even more in your life.

4. Another answer to this question might be: “I look for what’s missing. Some people come to me for direction; some want accountability, so that stuff gets done. Others can simply use support or a sounding board. (Others are focus, inspiration, and challenge.)

5. Another great answer is: “If you could do anything, what’s the number one thing you would change in your life?”

6. Put it back on them — after all, that’s what coaching is.

7. Many people will say, “That’s interesting.”  Don’t let this pass.  Ask them “What about it do you find interesting?” and go from there.

8. Other great questions: “Have you ever considered working with a coach?”  “If you had your own coach, what would you get started on first?”