Dr. Angie Meyer of Rosen Coaching was recently interviewed by Life by Design with Drs. Jamie and Joel Richards!  If you want to explore some concepts of a true wellness practice, please click here to find the recording of the interview or find Life By Design podcast on iTunes!

Tags: Chiropractic Coaching, communication, Drs. Jamie & Joel Richards, Health Care, Life By Design, True Wellness Model, Wellness Chiropractic, wellness revolution

Many people are excited about the Ask vs. Tell, socratic questions of our Rosen Coaching Communications! We’ve just finished our Wellness Practice Blueprint program and people around the world are implementing and changing their communication and having massive effects in their practices already!

As a chiropractic coach, when I listen to live recordings of patient interactions, or are talking down the concept of socratic questions with clients, I find a big piece of the puzzle is not JUST the skillful questions we are asking, but also the “tone” of voice or intention of the question.

From my perspective, the two opposing ways to approach a question are either: an intent of confrontation or an intent of clarification.

Our goal with our tone is not to be condescending but curious!  Our intent is to clarify, not be confrontational!  Truly our intent, our tone, our body language, our facial expressions all communicate a message to the person in front of us. We all know the same question, asked either way, can mean entirely different things!

I personally have heard chiropractors, who are thinking they are doing a good thing by asking questions, speaking down to people, asking rhetorical questions, and making the entire interaction awkward. I have also heard very skillful communicators ask questions to clarify what’s really going on, in a conversationally curious way to have successful interactions and build long term relationships.

If you would like to learn more about how to ask socratic questions in a way that builds relationships over time (as opposed to ruining them) we’d love to send you a free training module called our LAASR Orientation!  Please go to our website and enter in your name and email. In addition to that, we will send you hundreds of dollars of free products from our store as a gift!.

Tags: Ask vs. Tell, Care vs. Scare, Chiropractic Coach, Chiropractic Practice Management, communication

At Rosen Coaching, one of our main tenants that we bring to our chiropractic coaching and speaking around the world, is the concept of “Care vs. Scare” communication. Both Dr. Russ Rosen and I work hard to help chiropractors communicate and practice chiropractic in a congruent model with our philosophy. Our vision is to have chiropractors step into their rightful place as the recognized leaders of true healthcare, worldwide!

Recently, while speaking at an EPOC group in Ottawa, and day in and day out in our coaching conversations with our clients, how deep this concept is embedded in the chiropractic profession really sunk in.

With each interaction in your office, you have a choice: To inspire others to action or to try and manipulate them.  This shows up initially during Visit 1 and 2, but will continue on through your daily interactions, and show up strongly again in your re-evaluations and re-reports, and especially how you handle difficult questions!

Inspiring others requires communicating the ‘why‘ behind chiropractic care and why you do it.  It requires a conversation of finding out where they are at, what they think and teaching under the radar to help them see there is another way. It means empowering people, giving them truth and consequences and leading them to choose what is right for them.  It doesn’t mean sugar-coating the truth, or not talking about consequences, but the intention is to inspire action and empower people.

Manipulating others uses scare tactics to coerce and strong arm people to choosing what you think is right for them.  It means a harsh tone and over-dramatizing the negative, making assumptions, painting people into a corner, giving them one good choice.  Yes this can work in the short term, but it’s not a good way to build strong relationships over the long run, in our opinion.  The intention is to manipulate people to do what you want.

The trick is to REALLY find out what is going on with them, and how we might be able to help them.  Then simply find out what they really want and show them how they can have it!

If you are up for it, I’d like to challenge you to see where in your practice and in your community you can inspire others more.  Will you take me up on it?

Tags: care tactics, Care vs. Scare, Chiropractic Coach, Chiropractic Practice Management, Chiropractic Wellness Model, communication, Rosen Chiropractic Coaching, scare tactics

Are you inspiring action? Do you lead your community to make healthier choices, for them and their entire family?  Are you communicating our message from the inside-out, congruent with chiropractic principles?

In this video, Simon Sinek explains that, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it”.

It explains why chiropractors who download information about what chiropractic can do for patients and how they are different from other doctors, may get a few people on board.  But those chiropractors who lead through inspiration, allowing people to connect to their purpose, beliefs and motivation, the ‘WHY’ of their messages, can build big practices.

At Rosen Coaching, it is our mission to have chiropractors step up to their rightful place as the recognized leaders of true healthcare worldwide!  We know that every human being deserves the chance to get healthy and stay healthy and have the best life possible.  Are you sharing that message in your community?

Tags: action, communication, Health Care, Inspiration, Leadership, Rosen Chiropractic Coaching, Wellness Chiropractors, wellness revolution

In recent coaching conversations with Rosen Coaching clients, as well as in our Wellness Practice Blueprint program, it’s becoming more and more clear to me a key distinction in communication in the chiropractic profession.

Most of us were taught to communicate by telling, teaching, and downloading information with a one-way monologue.  This method can be frustrating as people don’t seem to ‘get’ what we are trying to get across, therefore the chiropractic practice results we are seeking (retention, referrals etc.) don’t seem to follow.  Eventually we start to doubt our ability and our certainty waivers.

Instead, how about opening up a human-to-human, two-way dialogue?  It will take time to learn to communicate this way, to literally re-wire your chiropractic brain to ask instead of tell, but it is worth it.  The dialogue instead of the download is the way to help people really understand your message, and also be empowered to take action from it.  It will generate the practice results you desire when you master your communication starting with Visit 1, and Visit 2 all the way through your Daily Interactions, Re-exams, Re-reports and how you handle Difficult Questions.

Rather than just downloading and telling them what you think and getting them to ‘YES’ you, how about having a conversational dialogue so that you can also find out what they think, what they want and find ways to show them how to have it?

This dialogue approach leads to greater practice success and being able to help more people, as well as less frustration and less burnout.  Do you want to master the dialogue?  Check out our training materials or send us an email for a free 30 minute consult.

Tags: Ask vs. Tell, Certainty, Chiropractic Coach, Chiropractic Practice Management, Chiropractic Practice Success, communication, Rosen Chiropractic Coaching, wellness practice blueprint

In any profession or sport, there are those who play safe within the boundaries of what is ‘known’ and what is ‘possible’.  And then there are those who are out there, close to the edge, innovating and creating what is possible, doing what has never been done before. Or doing it differently than it’s ever been done before.

In mountaineering, being the first to climb a mountain is deemed a First Ascent. The climber pushes their skill on the unknown route, charting the way as they go. The danger is high, and the glory is high. And it is what evolves the sport. As soon as one person climbs it, it opens up a whole new realm of possibility for other climbers.

In surfing, there are those who surf the known spots. And there are those who explore and test what most deem ‘impossible’.  I prefer warm water surf myself, but this is a beautiful short film about pushing the limits of surfing.

At Rosen Coaching, we interact with many different types of people who are chiropractors.  Are you going to be a chiropractor who is evolving our profession? Or one who plays it safe with what you’ve always done?

My question is, “What are you going to do this year to better yourself as a chiropractor?”

Here is our Top 10 Ways to Be A Better Chiropractor:

1. Lead by example.

2. Be in the best physical shape of your life! Eat, exercise and move how your body was designed to, daily! If you are not the epitome of health, how can you lead pepole to health and wellness?

3. Clear up any mental or emotional weights from your past. Get therapy, support, coaching, or whatever it takes to allow yourself to be present and free!

4. Clean up any relationships that aren’t 100% happy or healthy.  Be present and loving to your family. Spend time with those you love.

5. Strengthen your team at the practice. Create a strong vision that everyone supports. Design a powerful mission that you all work towards each and every day. Click here for a powerful presentation for you and your team!

6. Deepen your understanding of Chiropractic Philosophy. Pretend like you are getting a Ph. D. in Chiropractic Philosophy: read, write, and think critically. Our philosophy is the ‘why’ behind what we do.

7. Study the science of what it is that we do. Without a thorough understanding of neurology, physiology and anatomy fresh in your mind, how can you feel certain on what effects are created from an adjustment, let alone convey that to your patients or the public?

8. Master your art.  Do you love your technique? Do you get great results? If yes, than learn more of it.  What would take you to the next level in your skills? If you don’t, find a technique that resonates and you can immerse yourself in. Learn all that you can to clear nerve interference and help those in need in your community.  If you were a professional athlete or musician you would practice daily. You are a professional chiropractor, behave like one and practice your butt off!

9. Spend time learning how to communicate effectively.  All the knowledge, philosophy and skill does nothing unless you can share your message in a way that people can hear it. Learn to communicate in a way that is congruent with our philosophy and healing. And in a way that empowers rather than controls.  If you can share your message better, you can help more people, guaranteed!

10. Develop your certainty.  Increase your confidence.  Address any doubts, fears or demons so that you be clear on who you are and what you offer. Get your passion, motivation and excitement back for what this profession can do for the world.

If you dedicate yourself to being a better chiropractor by the end of 2011, tackle each of these things and work diligently on them, you will be!  Train like a professional at your craft. Play like you mean it. It’s your life, what are you waiting for? It’s time to help the masses!

Tags: Chiropractic Coach, Chiropractic Practice Success, communication, first ascent, Leadership, pushing limits, Rosen Chiropractic Coaching, rosen coaching, Success, True Wellness Model

I’d taken a little writing hiatus over this last month of summer ~ but this is an important concept I have been working with our Rosen Chiropractic Coaching client’s lately as it seems to be a recurring theme.  So I wanted to share!

It is important to pre-frame some important things during our initial conversations with new people to avoid pitfalls down the road and have clear expectations about chiropractic care.

For example, after someone receives their first adjustment, it is important that you outline the different outcomes that may occur (and we don’t know how they will respond). It’s what I like to call “Door #1, Door #2, and Door #3″:

Door #1: They may feel better (a lot better)!

The pitfall is that once they feel better, they think they ARE better! We need to pre-frame this thought process by letting them know that symptoms are the last thing to appear and the first thing to go away. Just like the tip of an iceberg slipping below the surface, the symptom is gone, but the underlying pattern and what caused the symptom has not yet been addressed.

Door #2: They may not feel much change (if any)

The pitfall here is that they could be disappointed in you or your care.  Without pre-framing this, they may think that chiropractic doesn’t ‘work’ and not come back. I like the analogy of taking a vitamin for the first time to help explain and pre-frame this one – you may not feel anything right away.  There are lots of cellular changes happening but nothing perceivable as of yet.  So let them know not to be disappointed if this option occurs for them.

Door #3: They may feel worse

Eek!  The pitfall is they might think you’ve made it worse, or caused it to worsen. Without pre-framing this one, you may never get a chance to have a second conversation!  So you need to let them know that although rare, just like after exercise, that the body might have some soreness afterwards.  And because the adjustment clears interference from the nerve system, the body will be functioning better than before.  It could even have cleansing symptoms that don’t feel good, but are a sign the body is working better!

In essence, pre-framing does a few things:

1. Avoids major pitfalls or crisis conversations down the road and gives a foundation to build on for future conversations during daily interactions

2. Helps stretch their consciousness and understanding about chiropractic care and their body’s intelligence by planting good seeds

3. Improves your level of influence and leadership

Tags: communication, Leadership, Pitfalls, Pre-Frame, Rosen Chiropractic Coaching

At Rosen Coaching, we speak with chiropractors around the world, day in and day out, about how to improve their communication so that people ‘get’ the chiropractic message.  Initially this concept arose out of a conversation with one of my doctors who was working on the ‘Whole Story‘, one of the most powerful parts of our visit 1 and visit 2. But it’s become a theme as of late and I’ve distilled three important pillars of communication that I’d like to share with you.  They are, what I have been calling, the 3 C’s of communication:

1. Clear

2. Concise

3. Concrete

None of this is going to appear like rocket science, but it’s important to look at each one closely and realize the bigness of small things.

If we are going to convey or transmit communication, it is essential that it is clear. We need to be 100% clear on what we are trying to accomplish, what we want to say, and be sure we articulate it with clarity. No fair having a communication subluxation when you’re trying to transmit your message!

Next we need to be sure it is concise.  If a Ph.D in biochemistry was trying to explain a concept to you, it is important that he doesn’t go into a 30 minute monologue about many different aspects of biochem. It is essential that he  keep it not only clear (so that you can follow), but also concise (so that your brain does not go into overwhelm).  Many chiropractors, when I ask them to tell me what they can offer, they give me a 30 minute lay lecture, sidetracking with research, vaccinations, health care stats etc.  We need to keep it concise, especially if we are going to ask them to repeat back to you what they understand so far!  Set them up to succeed, not to fail.

Lastly, but not least importantly, is making our communication concrete.  This means making it real for people! It is not to your benefit to use big latin words and appear ‘smart’ to the patient, at the expense of  not being able to articulate or understand what you are talking about.  It is to your benefit to use concrete examples and real world analogies, so that they can understand and share their new understanding with others. Chiropractic itself is an abstract concept, so let’s help them understand a paradigm shift by integrating new concepts within their current framework of how the world works.  For example, a great analogy to describe a subluxation is ‘static on a cell phone’.  Everyone has experienced this, or could at least imagine it.  So I challenge you to use real, concrete analogies at every step of your communications.

If you have any questions about the 3 C’s of communication, please comment below or join our global community on Facebook where we are happy to answer any and all of your questions!

Tags: Chiropractic Coach, Chiropractic Coaching, Chiropractic Consultant, Chiropractic Practice Success, communication, Leadership, Rosen Chiropractic Coaching, rosen coaching

Do you remember the Chiropractic Safety Pin Cycle from philosophy class 101? You know, Brain Cell (B.C.) has efferent transmission to Tissue Cell (T.C) and it has afferent transmission back to brain cell?  If not, I’ve included a diagram from The Chiropractic Textbook by R.W. Stephenson from 1927.  (If you don’t own it, I highly recommend it)!

However, when it comes to most chiropractor’s communication, they usually have a monologue or just the ‘efferent’ part of transmission, telling people their chiropractic story and wonder why they don’t stay, pay and refer?  Why don’t people ‘GET IT’?

With our Rosen Coaching clients and group coaching programs, we look at our communication from both the efferent and afferent sides.  As a profession, what if we could communicate in a way that was more congruent (inside-out) by asking questions and getting their input, as opposed to outside-in education?

How most of us communicate is merely the ‘efferent’ part, we never check in with the person and say, “Just to make sure we’re on the same page, what do you get so far?”  We never ask them questions, we just tell people what we think and leave it at that.   Our profession doesn’t, as a rule, close the safety pin cycle of our communication. No wonder we’re not shifting consciousness yet… It’s time we closed the safety pin on every communication we have! It’s time people really understood what we have to offer them and it’s time for chiropractors to start leading the wellness revolution, becoming the recognized leaders of true health care!

Tags: Chiropractic Coach, Chiropractic Coaching, Chiropractic Practice Management, Chiropractic Practice Success, communication, Leadership, rosen coaching, Safety Pin Cycle

I’ve been overseas this past week, speaking at the UCA conference in England and visiting chiropractors in Spain.  And between my travels and coaching chiropractors all around the world, I’ve observed a distinction that needs to made clear about the answer to this question, “Can chiropractic help”?  It is a question that no matter where you practice, it  seems to be an important question; one that is dangerous if not answered well.

When a person asks this question, they want to know if chiropractic can help their specific symptom.  If we say “yes”, chiropractic now becomes a mechanistic and allopathic natural “treatment” for their problem. This is a lose-lose scenario.  If it gets better and they disappear satisfied, they never get to experience what wellness chiropractic can do for them.  If it doesen’t get better, they disappear frustrated that chiropractic didn’t work. And they tell 100 of their friends just that.

If we say “no”, they are more than likely to turn their back on chiropractic care (no pun intended), because it’s not what they are looking for.  Again a lose-lose scenario.

If we tell them that chiropractors don’t care about symptoms and only want to correct subluxations, the person doesn’t feel like their needs are getting met. Yet another lose-lose scenario.

So what is the answer to the question?

It is our job to connect the dots so that people understand that their symptom could very well be related to a vertebral subluxation.  The good news is, if they have a subluxation, then we can help!  It is also our job to help them understand the bigger picture of a subluxation, how it relates to symptoms but more importantly how their lifestyle stress creates subluxations over and over again. And slowly, teach them under the radar, and stretch their consciousness to the big picture of chiropractic! Truly a win-win scenario.

If we are going to have a TRUE wellness practice, we must answer this question in a congruent way.  At Rosen Coaching, both Dr. Russ Rosen and Dr.Angie Meyer work with chiropractors on the foundation of their certainty, beliefs, philosophy and communication to do so!

Tags: Certainty, chiropractic, Chiropractic Coaching, communication, Dr. Angie Meyer, Dr. Russ Rosen, Philosophy, rosen coaching, Speaking, Subluxation, Symptoms, Treatment, True Wellness Practice