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Maybe it's too literal, but I think you said your name in the first sentence. "The Communications Coach."
Posted by Lori Stephens, Seattle, Washington | Jan 10, 2009
Help me name my business!
I want to offer interpersonal communications coaching services. Here’s what I would and would not offer:
My services would NOT be: • Formal psychotherapy • Formal life coaching • Public speaking consulting • Business communications coaching • Training on how to better use your voice • Training on how to write more effectively
My services WOULD be: Individual, one-on-one coaching sessions geared toward learning better interpersonal skills, uncovering the events and patterns that have become communication blocks, breaking through those blocks, finding new tools and techniques for dealing with general communication challenges, modeling effective communication, and instilling in the client a strong sense of confidence and inspiration.
With whom would the clients put their skills to use? • Your spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, partner • Your ex • Your kids • Your parents • Co-workers • Your boss/manager • Salespeople • Business vendors • Relatives (family gatherings) • Strangers • Bullies • Groups/public speaking • Job interviews • Employees • Teachers/students • Your date • Your housemate • Your doctor • Clergy • Yourself!
What my services will help the client feel: Clear, Articulate, Persuasive, Honest Straightforward, Eloquent, Smooth, Powerful Confident, Dynamic, Agile, Ease Poised, Authentic, Fluid/fluent, Empowered Sophisticated, Charismatic, Direct, Congruent Masterful, Definitive, Excellence, Brilliant Balance, Genius, Precise, “in the zone”
A few images and metaphors that I’m toying with. • Direct: Something sharp and clean, that cuts right through the fluff/junk and gets directly to the source • Flow: How water flows, easily and fluidly, when all blocks have been removed • Aikido: martial arts; discipline and training of the mind/body to stand firm in the face of an adversary’s attack
My background: I have a bachelor’s degree (English), Practitioner Certification in NLP, and will soon be receiving my Master Practitioner Certification. I have trained with Michael Grinder, Lindagail Campbell, and Michael Arndt, and I also have over 10 years of direct work in the fields of NLP and general self-help by way of book editing. My NLP knowledge has been augmented with decades of study in a variety of subjects: Eastern philosophy (especially Zen and Buddhism), hemispheric dominance, Myers-Briggs typology, Enneagram, neurology/neuroscience, cognitive psychology, linguistics, and quantum physics.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
22 Bizniks have posted replies
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Posted by Justin Dagna, Bothell, Washington | Jan 10, 2009 -
Posted by Jim Grammer, Portland, Oregon | Jan 10, 2009Yup, Justin's right on point and it's NOT too literal. It's going to be a stretch for many people to 'get' what it is that you do, might as well make the name as straightforward and descriptive as possible.
Great work on ideal clients, services and perceived outcomes! I'd like to see a listing of 'problems you solve' / 'pain you relieve' alongside the rest as I think that's going to be more attractive(literally) to potential clients.
IMO personal branding and leveraging the heck out of your substantial expertise is a major key to marketing this. HTH! :)
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Posted by Lori Stephens, Seattle, Washington | Jan 13, 2009Thanks! I'm getting all kinds of feedback (a good thing): some people strongly advocate the literal approach, others think that a juicy metaphor works best for this type of service. The brainstorming wheels continue to spin ... :-)
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Posted by PJ Harris, Seattle, Washington | Jan 30, 2009Off of the top of my head I am wondering about: Talk your Walk. Just a brainstorming pop. Good luck :) PJ
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Posted by Donna Angevine, Monroe, Washington | Jan 31, 2009How about Speak Easy? Keep us posted on what you come up with and good luck.
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Posted by Suzanne Melton, Seattle, Washington | Jan 31, 2009Or, you could try Name This
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Posted by Jim Carney, Bellingham, Washington | Feb 01, 2009Stepzone (combines step by step with "in the zone" and is also a play on part of your name... STEPhens)
ICC is also good (Interpersonal Communcations Coach)
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Posted by Lori Stephens, Seattle, Washington | Feb 02, 2009
The company now has a name: i2i Communication Training.
"i2i" refers to the specific niche, as I will be concentrating on face-to-face experience.
"Communication Training" is straightforward and instantly understandable.
Thanks, everyone who offered suggestions! :-)
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Posted by Donna Angevine, Monroe, Washington | Feb 02, 2009
Interesting and succinct. A great name!
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Posted by Wendy P, Beaverton, Oregon | Feb 19, 2009I'm glad you've got a great new name now. Interesting exercise for us & v interesting & much needed service you offer. I love it.. Can't have too much good communication in the world!
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Posted by Victor Jory, Ft lauderdale, Florida | Mar 12, 2009look into personal branding before you name your business. Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, April 09), and owner of the award winning Personal Branding Blog.
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Posted by Loma Gregg, Bellevue, Washington | Mar 26, 2009Take your top five picks/suggestions, have a 'branding party' with other business folks. This is the best way to detach yourself and view the name from a consumers standpoint - perhaps coming up with a name not brought to the table. They can also help with tag lines, your 30 second commercial etc. The energy of creative minds does amazing things when brought together!
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Posted by Sam Wieder, Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Apr 21, 2009I suggest that you come up with a business name that communicates a compelling ultimate outcome that you help your clients achieve.
A few possibilities: Confident Communications, Compelling Communications, Crystal Clear Communications.
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Posted by Nancy Juetten, Bellevue, Washington | Apr 21, 2009Hi Lori,
Your name should be brief, emotionally resonate with your ideal customers, and hint at compelling solutions you can provide, unlike anyone else.
For example, when your clients have better interpersonal skills, uncover the events and patterns that have become communication blocks, break through those blocks, find new tools and techniques for dealing with general communication challenges, model effective communication, and instill in the client a strong sense of confidence and inspiration,
how do they feel? how is life and business better for them? do they save time, sleep better at night, do they breathe easier? make better choices? feel content at last? will they make more money? will they make every moment count?
Somewhere in the answers to these questions is an emotionally resonating name.
Making it Count Communications Coaching might be one idea to ponder, provided you target it property to your ideal customer.
Right now, it sounds like you are targeting just about everyone who needs to be more effective with face to face communications. If you niche in tighter, your perfect people will find it easier to find you.
When the invitation is "Y'all come," very few people typically do.
It's not easy to get to the heart of the matter, but when you do, you'll know it because you will have a wait list of clients beating down your door.
Good luck.
Nancy
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Posted by Lori Stephens, Seattle, Washington | Apr 21, 2009
Thanks - I picked the company name some time ago. Please see the previous post:
"The company now has a name: i2i Communication Training.
"i2i" refers to the specific niche, as I will be concentrating on face-to-face experience.
"Communication Training" is straightforward and instantly understandable.
Thanks, everyone who offered suggestions! :-)"
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Posted by Tammy Redmon, Seattle, Washington | May 08, 2009What a great process Lori - and I love the name!!
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Posted by Sue Oliver, Seattle, Washington | Jun 05, 2009Love to hear your elevator talk on this one! Great job !!!
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Posted by Dr. James A. Lee, chicago, Illinois | Jun 11, 2009What is your market for your service? It would appear that some people would afraid to admit that they need help unless they are from another country or culture. This may help you identify customers. Best wishes and great topic.
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Posted by Meisha Rouser, Seattle, Washington | Jun 11, 2009I love the i2i Communication. Very creative and descriptive in a simple way.
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Posted by Rebecca Ryckman, Arlington, Virginia | Aug 12, 2009Wow, Lori, you have gotten a lot of suggestions to help name your business. I'm sure you're on your way to a memorable name.
When you get 5-10 names that you really like and think might work, start using them in public with friends, family, colleagues, etc. See what their reaction is to the name without mentioning what you're doing. This will give you some insight on how others react to the name you choose.
I hope this is helpful. Best of luck.
Rebecca
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Posted by Armand Tanoh, Gaithersburg, Maryland | Aug 16, 2009cool name 4 ur biz
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Posted by Jarvis Lee, Shanghai, Shanghai China | Oct 15, 2009i2i, Great name
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