Ep 91 How To Network as a Coach (Even If You Hate Networking)

You're at a conference, a local business event, or maybe just a friend's dinner party. Someone asks what you do. And suddenly your brain goes blank. You mumble something about coaching, they nod politely, and the conversation moves on. Sound familiar?

Networking has a terrible reputation — and honestly, most of us are doing it wrong. We either avoid it entirely or show up with an energy that feels transactional and forced. But here's the thing: relationships are how most coaching businesses grow. Not ads. Not algorithms. People.

This episode is part two of our five-part series, "The Conversations That Build Coaching Businesses." We're talking about what to say — and how to show up — when you meet someone who could become a client, a referral source, or a collaborator. Whether you're an introvert who dreads small talk or you just don't know what to say when someone asks what you do, this episode will help you approach networking in a way that feels genuine, not gross.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why networking feels so uncomfortable for most coaches (and how to reframe it)
• The mindset shift from transactional to relational networking
• What to say when someone asks "What do you do?" — a simple formula that works
• The art of being interested, not just interesting
• How to talk about your work in a way that opens doors (and makes you easy to refer)
• Networking strategies for introverts and people who find this draining
• Online networking: building relationships through DMs, comments, and communities
• What to do after you meet someone — the follow-up that actually builds relationships
• How to spot potential referral partners and collaborators (and what to say to them)

Coming up in this series:

• Episode 92: The "Not Right Now" Conversation
• Episode 93: The Price Conversation
• Episode 94: The Difficult Client Conversation

Resources & Links:

• Episode 90: How to Get More Coaching Clients Through Referrals (Without Feeling Salesy)
• How to Get Clients Now (Free Masterclass)
• The Confident Coaching Skills Intensive — now available self-guided
• Get It Done: Private Coaching with Wendy