A coaching client of mine emailed me this morning and asked how to cancel a standing coaching appointment with one of her downline without totally souring the relationship.  This person in her downline has never made an appointment and has rescheduled four times (she says she has the appointment in her calendar but “forgets to call.”)  Obviously this is not working for either of them and my client doesn’t want to waste any more time (rightly so!).

My suggestion is to build a bridge so you can move on.  This is what I mean.

What does a bridge do?  It connects, spans, links or helps people cross over.  What does that look like in Network Marketing?

1.  Compliment them.  Tell them what you do like about them.  Why you wanted to work with them in the first place.

***  then

2.  Tell them you understand that they cannot at this time do what you’d like them to do.  But when they are ready to move forward you will be happy to work with them.

This is an example from one of my coaching programs of setting someone free from feeling obligated or in any way beholdin’.  This story is about a woman who said “yes” to building a business and then her life got in the way.  So her sponsor built this bridge.

I know your heart is there but it is not a good time.  I’ll let you contact me when you are ready again.

What a nice thing to do.  You’ve given them permission to work with you if and when they are ready, but they can go away without getting defensive.  And you can mnove on too.

If it’s appropriate list some of things you really like about them.  They might be a great people person or bring certain skills to the table that you like.  What ever you like about them, tell them.  Then let them know you understand that the timing isn’t right, or whatever is appropriate for their situation, and invite them to call you when they are ready.

Give people lots of room to be exactly where they are (it’s my take they are exactly where they are supposed to be or they’d be elsewhere).  if you give them lots of room, if and when they are ready and able, they’ll contact you.

And if they don’t come back…rejoice that you didn’t spend (waste) any more of your precious time with them.