What to Expect on a Discovery Call
- Hanna Richards-James
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 13
What is a discovery call?
A discovery call is a short introductory conversation designed to explore your goals, challenges, and what kind of support may be useful. At DesignWise Coaching + Consulting, a discovery call is a free 30-minute conversation where we look at where you are now, where you want to go, and whether coaching, leadership development, or consulting support could be a good fit.
There’s no obligation to move forward. The goal is simply to create clarity and determine whether working together makes sense.
Booking a discovery call is often the hardest part of reaching out for support, not because the call itself is difficult, but because of everything unknown leading up to it.
Will I be pressured into signing something? (nope)
Do I need to have my problem all figured out already? (nope)
What if I don't even know what I need help with yet? (no worries, that's part of the process)
What a Discovery Call is, what it isn't, and exactly what to expect
What a discovery call is not
Let's start here, because this is often the biggest source of hesitation.
A discovery call is not a sales pitch. I'm not going to walk you through a slide deck of packages and try to close you into signing up before we hang up.
You don't need to have already diagnosed your own problem, or arrive with a polished summary of what's wrong. And booking a call does not commit you to anything beyond the 30 minutes we spend talking.
What we'll actually talk through
The Current State: where things stand right now. I'll ask what's going on, a specific challenge, a situation you're navigating, a transition you're navigating, or just a general sense that something needs to shift. You don't need a polished narrative. Real, in-progress, half-formed thoughts are often more useful than a rehearsed version.
The Future State: what would an 'ideal' situation be. Sometimes this isn't concrete yet, that's okay, that's part of the conversations. Or, you may already know what you want, concretely, six months or a year from now, what would be different?
The Past State: what you've already tried. If you've attempted to work through this on your own, or tried other resources, tools, or support along the way, it helps me understand what has and hasn't moved the needle so far.
Whether — and how — I can support you. Based on everything above, I'll share how I'd approach working with you: what a client relationship might look like, what it includes, and realistic timelines. If it's not the right fit, I'll say so honestly, and if I know someone better suited to help, I'll point you there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Discovery Calls
How long is a discovery call?
DesignWise discovery calls typically last about 30 minutes.
Do I need to prepare for a discovery call?
No. You do not need a written summary, a fully defined problem, or even certainty about what type of support you need.
Will I be expected to make a decision on the call?
No. The conversation is designed to determine fit and clarify possible next steps, without pressure to make a decision during the call.
What can we discuss during a discovery call?
You can bring a personal or leadership challenge, team issue, transition, development need, organizational initiative, or even a general sense that something needs to change. Your current article already communicates this particularly well.
This first conversation matters more than people expect
The discovery call often does real work of its own. Simply saying out loud what's been sitting unspoken, the stuck feeling, the decision you keep circling, the thing you can't quite name yet, tends to create a small amount of clarity on its own, independent of anything that happens afterward.
That's part of why I don't treat these calls as a sales formality. They're a genuine first step, whether or not we end up working together beyond it.
If you're on the fence about booking
That hesitation is completely normal, and it doesn't mean you're not ready. If any part of what you read above resonates — a sense of being stuck, an inflection point, a challenge you haven't quite been able to name — that's usually enough of a reason to have the conversation. You're not committing to anything by exploring it.
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