How do you answer the question, “What do you do?”
Can you even answer that question? Or does it send you into a cold sweat and give you red-face?
Odds are, you’re making answering that question too hard for yourself.
You’re trying to reduce yourself to a few-word label. At the end of your sentence, your voice goes up in pitch, as though your asking a question. You’re begging for recognition, a sign that your audience understands what you mean by the two-word label you just assigned yourself.
In reality, there are so many easier ways to talk about what you do. Easier on you. And easier on them.
In fact, if you really want them to “get” what you do, don’t give yourself a label. Don’t try to simplify it. Make it real.
Here are three sure-fire ways to answer the question “What do you do?”
Talk about how you help people: I help coaches find an authentic voice so they can communicate with their tribe, connect, and differentiate themselves from the crowd.
Tell your personal story about how you got to where you are: I worked in the corporate world for twelve years in the niche of marketing communications. I knew I wanted a change so I took a life coaching certification. When I got canned from my corporate job, I knew I needed to supplement my income with some back-to-basics marketing freelance work. Turns out, I didn’t hate it. I actually loved it and rekindled my passion for communications. Now, I use my powers for good and help non-profits and people who are starting their own personal growth businesses.
Tell a story about a client: I’ve been working with one woman who recently graduated from a coach certification program. She wasn’t sure how to get her business off the ground. So we’ve been setting up blogging systems, newsletter and social media strategy. This ensures her audience continues to grow and engage with the materials she’s putting out there. It also gives them insight into her philosophy and even some tips they can implement into their lives, right now.
(This strategy works well combined with strategy number one.)
Want even more guidance on how to talk about what you do, including a step-by-step guide for finding the exact words? I’ve design a new “What do you do?” workbook. It’s totally free and it will help you home in on your personal answer to the age-old question. Get it here.
