--- title: 5 Steps to Successful Coaching description: how to engage a coach --- # [SELLING IN THE 21ST CENTURY](https://www.rickroberge.com/) [![header-sm-linkedin-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465400397-png/images/header-sm-linkedin-blue.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickroberge) [![header-sm-twitter-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465371692-png/images/header-sm-twitter-blue.png)](https://twitter.com/RainMakerMaker) [![header-sm-google-plus-red](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-462412948-png/images/header-sm-google-plus-red.png)](https://plus.google.com/+RickRoberge/posts) [![header-sm-rss](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-480298330-png/images/header-sm-rss.png)](https://www.rickroberge.com/rss.xml) # [Science for Sales Rock Stars](https://www.rickroberge.com/) ## [5 Steps to Successful Coaching](https://www.rickroberge.com/5-steps-to-successful-coaching) ![](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RR.jpg?width=35&height=35&name=RR.jpg) By [Rick Roberge](https://www.rickroberge.com/author/rick-roberge)   Dec 11, 2017, 5:57:43 AM So, how are sales? - Awesome! Best year ever! - Better than last year, but not what I was hoping for. - Same old. Same old. Hit my quota. Miss my quota. Still at it. - Might be time to look for a new job. You ever wonder which of those answers results in someone hiring me to coach them and which become a lot more successful? It might be best if we understand the 5 steps to a successful coaching engagement. ## #1 - We don't know each other, but you realize that: - Even though you're doing well, [you wonder if you might be able to do better](https://www.rickroberge.com/extreme-sales). This is why I've been hired by reps that were the top salespeople in their company or executives that have sold tons of product, but now need to sell concepts, relationships or compromise. - You've been bumping along, good weeks, not so good weeks. Not the top rep, but not in danger of being let go (You hope!). No, seriously. You're not in danger because your boss probably can't find anybody better than you and it's a lot of work to onboard a new rep. So, they resolve to stay on top of your pipeline. - You're about to be **[put on probation](https://www.rickroberge.com/case-study-sales-probation-to-promotion)**. Turn it around in 3 months or find a new job. ## #2 - So you Google *[What is a Sales Coach, and Why do you need one](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-lyons/sales-coach_b_4979638.html)*? - or you ask a friend and they tell you about me. - Either way, **[you contact me](https://www.rickroberge.com/contact-me)**. ## #3 - We have an email exchange, a conversation or some combination. - You start with, "I'd like to find out about your coaching." or something similar. - I ask what's going on and you tell me whatever you want to tell me. - Usually, you'll ask about [making better cold calls](https://www.rickroberge.com/cold-calls-sales-lies-and-denial), [finding better prospects](https://www.rickroberge.com/Blog/bid/225661/Building-a-Sales-Funnel), [reviving prospects that went dark](https://www.rickroberge.com/prospects-that-go-dark). - You're pretty sure that [a new script, trick, tip, or technique will put you over](https://www.rickroberge.com/heres-another-one). - I ask about personal goals, dreams. How your life would change and plans to reach them. (and you resist) - Eventually, [we have a meeting of the minds](https://www.rickroberge.com/getting-prospects-to-really-open-up) or [we don't](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-blow-you-up-probably-deserve-rick-roberge/). ## #4 - We start - We do the sales evaluation to determine sales competencies, DNA, strengths and skills. - We talk several times a week about opportunities an your pipeline, prospecting, nurturing, qualifying, closing and any other *current* real lfe sales situation. - Our talks revolve around what you would normally do, what you did to get where you are, what needs to be done to get a different result and what competency or DNA strand is affecting your result. - 8-10 weeks in, things start to change. You really [start to get it](https://www.rickroberge.com//Blog/bid/341268/Pricing-Page-for-RainMaker-and-Sales-Rock-Star-Coaching). ## #5 - You grow up and graduate - Once you realize how your sales competencies and sales DNA are affecting your results, you're better, and - after 3 months of talking, role-playing, and coaching, you may feel ready to start self directing and you graduate. - Some others that have bigger goals or dreams or want to do more decide to stay for [another](https://www.rickroberge.com/case-study-sales-probation-to-promotion) month or [two](https://soundcloud.com/user-678808760/michael-douglas-how-investing-in-coaching-brought-this-rep-a-4x-roi). So, I hope 2017 was awesome and 2018 is looking even better. - If it was awesome and you're wondering if it could have been better, or - it was less than awesome and you defintely want 2018 to be way better, ## [start here](https://www.rickroberge.com/merry-christmas) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### Want updates as they're published? #### Enter your email: BTW, do you have an idea or question that would make a good article? Would you like to write or co-author it? Either way, **[send me an email](mailto:therainmakermaker@gmail.com?Subject=Blog%20article/author%20idea)**. **[Rick Roberge](https://plus.google.com/116082120720832878924/posts?rel=author)** ## About this blog *This blog is for, by and about Sales Rock Stars, RainMakers, Entrepreneurs (and/or those that strive to be)* ## [Read My Articles on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/rickroberge) ## [About Rick](https://www.rickroberge.com/contact-me) **[The Original](http://therainmakermaker.com/)[RainMaker Maker Blog (pre-2012)](http://therainmakermaker.com/)** [**Remote Bookkeeping**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy)[**Made Easy**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy) [**Awesome Website Design**](https://www.inbounddesignstudio.com/contact/) Search RainMakers & Sales Rock Stars Search ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Posts by Month - [November 2025 (19)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/11) - [October 2025 (18)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/10) - [June 2025 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/06) - [May 2025 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/05) - [April 2025 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/04) - [July 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/07) - [June 2023 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/06) - [May 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/05) - [March 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/03) - [January 2023 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/01) - [November 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/11) - [May 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/05) - [April 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/04) - [March 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/03) - [February 2022 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/02) - [January 2022 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/01) - [December 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/12) - [November 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/11) - [October 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/10) - [September 2021 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/09) - [August 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/08) - [July 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/07) - [June 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/06) - [May 2021 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/05) - [April 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/04) - [March 2021 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/03) - [January 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/01) - [December 2020 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/12) - [November 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/11) - [October 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/10) - [September 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/09) - [August 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/08) - [July 2020 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/07) - [June 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/06) - [May 2020 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/05) - [April 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/04) - [March 2020 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/03) - [February 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/02) - [January 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/01) - [December 2019 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/12) - [November 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/11) - [October 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/10) - [September 2019 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/09) - [August 2019 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/08) - [July 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/07) - [June 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/06) - [April 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/04) - [March 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/03) - [February 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/02) - [January 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/01) - [December 2018 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/12) - [November 2018 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/11) - [October 2018 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/10) - [September 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/09) - [August 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/08) - [July 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/07) - [June 2018 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/06) - [May 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/05) - [April 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/04) - [March 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/03) - [February 2018 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/02) - [January 2018 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/01) - [December 2017 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/12) - [November 2017 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/11) - [October 2017 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/10) - [September 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/09) - [August 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/08) - [July 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/07) - [June 2017 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/06) - [May 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/05) - [April 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/04) - [March 2017 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/03) - [February 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/02) - [January 2017 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/01) - [December 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/12) - [November 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/11) - [October 2016 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/10) - [September 2016 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/09) - [August 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/08) - [July 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/07) - [June 2016 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/06) - [May 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/05) - [April 2016 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/04) - [March 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/03) - [February 2016 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/02) - [January 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/01) - [December 2015 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/12) - [November 2015 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/11) - [October 2015 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/10) - [September 2015 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/09) - [August 2015 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/08) - [July 2015 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/07) - [June 2015 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/06) - [May 2015 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/05) - [April 2015 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/04) - [March 2015 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/03) - [February 2015 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/02) - [January 2015 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/01) - [December 2014 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/12) - [November 2014 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/11) - [October 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/10) - [September 2014 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/09) - [August 2014 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/08) - [July 2014 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/07) - [June 2014 (11)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/06) - [May 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/05) - [April 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/04) - [March 2014 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/03) - [February 2014 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/02) - [January 2014 (14)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/01) - [December 2013 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/12) - [November 2013 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/11) - [October 2013 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/10) - [September 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/09) - [August 2013 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/08) - [July 2013 (11)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/07) - [June 2013 (12)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/06) - [May 2013 (12)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/05) - [April 2013 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/04) - [March 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/03) - [February 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/02) - [January 2013 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/01) see all © 2026 Rick Roberge Website designed by [Inbound Design Partners](https://www.inbounddesignpartners.com/)