Decoding Your Client's Money Language Words That Reveal Their Money Story
Episode Overview In this episode, I delve into how coaches, therapists and professionals can decode their clients' money language to uncover deeper beliefs and patterns around finances. By becoming attuned to specific words and phrases, practitioners can help clients identify unconscious money stories that may be limiting their financial wellbeing. Key Highlights The Power of Money Language The words we use around money often reveal our deepest beliefs and fears Most money language is unconscious - clients don't realise what they're revealing Listening carefully can unlock breakthroughs much faster than traditional approaches Money language appears in conversations about pricing, investing, saving, spending and receiving Becoming a Skilled Listener The importance of genuine curiosity when exploring money language The difference between hearing and truly listening to clients Creating space for clients to express themselves fully Noticing emotional markers - when clients speed up, slow down or change their tone Reflecting back exact language rather than paraphrasing or interpreting Money Story Types and Their Language Patterns The Impulsive Key phrases: "I couldn't resist," "I'll figure it out later," "You only live once," "It was calling my name" Makes emotional, in-the-moment money decisions Challenge isn't budgeting skills but creating systems that work with their spontaneous nature Traditional budgeting often feels restrictive and triggers resistance The Architect Key phrases: "I need to plan for this carefully," "What's the return on investment?" "I'm falling behind on my financial goals," "I'm not comfortable taking that risk" Prefers solid plans and struggles with taking financial risks Benefits from permission to be occasionally spontaneous with money May need an "impulsive money pot" to build capacity for flexibility The Enabler Key phrases: "I should help them out," "I can't spend that on myself," "I need to do more" Prioritises others' financial needs before their own Needs support with creating healthy boundaries Benefits from recognising their own financial worthiness The Pacifist Key phrases: "I don't think about money," "Money will work itself out," "Money isn't important to me," "I trust the universe will provide" Avoids financial decisions due to fear of responsibility May have past experiences of poor financial decisions or being rescued financially Needs gentle accountability and small steps to build confidence The Innovator Key phrases: "I see a big opportunity here," "I can always make more money," "The potential upside is huge" Often seen in entrepreneurs who focus on possibilities and growth May neglect stability and foundations in pursuit of opportunity Benefits from strong financial planning alongside their risk-taking Other Language Patterns to Notice Scarcity Language Phrases like "That's never enough," "I can't afford it," "I always run out of money" Indicates patterns of lack and limitation in money thinking Abundance Language Phrases like "There's always more where that came from," "Money comes easily to me" May indicate a healthy relationship with money OR potential neglect of financial stability Inherited Money Beliefs Listen for phrases starting with "My parents always said..." or "In my family, we never..." These reveal generational patterns that may not actually belong to the client Practical Applications Reflect language back: "Tell me more about how money burns a hole in your pocket" Go deeper with questions: "When did you first learn that money was scarce?" Help clients create new language patterns that better serve their financial goals Remember that changing money language can lead to changing money behaviours Final Thought By becoming fluent in the language of money psychology, coaches can create deeper, faster transformations with clients rather than simply handing them off to financial experts. Chapters 00:00 Decoding Money Language 02:52 Understanding Money Stories 06:08 The Role of Active Listening 08:56 Exploring Money Story Types 12:08 Identifying Language Patterns 14:53 Inherited Money Beliefs 18:14 Transforming Money Narratives