Reaching out without pushing means replacing follow-ups with invitations. A follow-up asks "so, have you thought about it?" and leaves the person feeling they owe you an answer. An invitation offers something specific, dated and optional, linked to what they told you. They can say yes or no without awkwardness, and you have nothing left to beg for.
Why do follow-ups feel uncomfortable on both sides?
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A follow-up is a message that returns to an unanswered offer to get a decision. The key word is get. You want something from the person, and they feel it.
Take a classic line: "Just circling back on our conversation. Have you had a chance to think about the programme?" Nothing wrong with it. But the reader can only justify themselves or go quiet, and they usually go quiet. Meanwhile you wait and wonder whether you were too pushy or not pushy enough. When your practice is new, that discomfort is even stronger: either you never follow up and genuinely interested people drift away, or you do it reluctantly and it shows.
A follow-up demands a decision, while an invitation offers an opportunity.
What makes a good invitation?
An invitation is a specific, dated, optional offer made to someone who has already shown interest. It doesn't revisit the past; it opens something new.
- It's specific: what, when, how long. "A one-hour online workshop, Thursday at 7pm."
- It's personal: "I thought of you because you mentioned struggling to switch off in the evening."
- It's optional: "If it speaks to you, you're welcome. If not, no worries."
- It's a small step: a workshop, a circle, a discovery session, not a months-long programme straight away.
A relaxation practitioner might write: "Hi Claire, I'm running a breathing workshop on Thursday evening, one hour online, on end-of-day tension. I remembered what you said about your shoulders after work. Here's the link if you'd like to come, and if it's not the right time, that's completely fine."
A sincere invitation always leaves the person an easy way out.
Who should you invite, and to what?
Not strangers. People who already took a step: a conversation left hanging, someone who downloaded your free resource, someone you met at a wellbeing fair, a past workshop attendee. To always have something to invite people to, create regular occasions: a free or low-cost monthly workshop, an online circle, an open Q&A. During these sessions, people experience how you work, and those who want more will tell you.
Regular events give a coach a natural reason to get back in touch without chasing anyone.
What if they say no, or nothing?
A no is a clear answer, and a gift. Thank them and keep the door open for a future occasion on a different topic. Silence usually just means not now. Don't send message after message; your next invitation will do the work. As long as you offer and the person stays free, you're not bothering anyone.
If you'd like to build these occasions and the way you invite people to them, book a call.
