We are pleased to share an article entitled “ Coaching: To Be or Not To Be ” written by Sandra Hill.
So you want to be a coach. Well, it seems like thousands of others do too. In fact, numerous studies indicate that during the pandemic, the percentage of coaches increased exponentially, with more seasoned coaches seeking additional certifications to stand out from their newer counterparts.
Coaching seemed to become one of the many ‘go-to’ career choices for those who were relegated to working from home, while isolation, career adjustments and work-life balance issues became a topic of coaching conversations. No more was coaching considered an exclusive benefit as more and more people sought out the services of a coach.
Not only did the length of coaching conversations increase, but so did the use of audio-video platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet. Some coaches were using these platforms for the first time, so they learned about the platforms along with their clients. But over time, coaches seemed to experience burnout, exhaustion and stress as they regrouped as best as they could to meet the increased demands of their clients.
As a coach during the pandemic, how did it feel to know you had stiff competition? Did you wonder how you were going to make ends meet or get clients? Did you change your coaching niche or make other adjustments just to stand out or meet the needs of a new clientele?
If you are new to coaching, you might have some of these same questions, if not more. Yet you want to be a coach … or do you?
People become coaches for all kinds of reasons, but primarily because they love helping people. Some, however, embark on their coaching journey and later become mentors, therapists or counselors. So let’s explore the coaching journey via a strategy known as the Three Ps: Pause, Prepare and Prioritize.
PAUSE
You have an idea in your head, and you can’t turn it loose. But before you go too far, take time to pause. Get rid of distractions and answer the following questions:
❒ What is your why?
❒ Who will you coach?
❒ Do you want to work for someone else or for yourself?
PREPARE
You’ve answered the three questions above; now let’s expand on those answers. For example, is your ‘why’ strong enough to make a living, pay the bills, etc., or will it be a hobby? Also, just because you might ‘like’ something doesn’t mean it will ‘like’ you. There might not be a market for what you want to do.
Do you really know what coaching entails? If you are going to be in business for yourself, are you going to hire others to take care of the administrative part of the business, or are you going to handle it yourself?
Decisions, decisions, decisions. In the movie A League of Their Own, Tom Hanks’ character says, “If it were easy, everyone would do it.” Assuming you want to have a successful coaching business, it’s imperative that you make certain decisions after having all the facts.
On the administrative side, there’s coming up with a name, niche, business logo, business taxes, licensing, etc. Think about what training and certifications are required.
INVESTIGATE – Before you start your coaching journey, ask other coaches how they got started and find out what tips they might have. Find out their pain points and their triumphs. You can
find other coaches on LinkedIn, small business networks such as Alignable and coach support groups on Facebook where you can network.
RESEARCH – Find out all you can about the coaching industry, especially the various niches. It might seem counterintuitive, but reaching the masses is not a feasible option. Choose your audience and your niche, making sure that there is a need for the type of coaching you want to provide. You want to specialize so you can be known as the ‘expert.’
Coach rates might differ, so don’t forget to do your research so you know what you will charge your customers and what type of services you will want to offer.
PRIORITIZE
When you think you have sufficient information to make a choice, draft a business plan. At a minimum, your plan should outline your strategy for success, operations/marketing/financial plans along with projections five years into the future.
This business plan should also identify the pros/cons and timeline for actions. As the owner of this plan, you can and should update and modify as appropriate.
Don’t think that your coaching journey is over once your plan has been drafted. It’s actually just the beginning. You will want to continue networking, practice and improve upon your coaching technique and take additional coach training.
GOING FORWARD
There’s no right way or wrong way to embark on a journey to become a coach. Regardless of which way you might have started your journey, take the steps now to modify your progress and make better decisions. And, if you haven’t started yet, know that you now have the basics to doing so.
Suppose your coach journey has been difficult or overwhelming. Maybe you can’t find clients, or you are challenged by the administrative work needed. Or you might not want to be the person in charge. You have other options, such as working for a company that contracts out for coaching or has coaches embedded within their organization.
You are now one decision away from deciding whether to be a coach or not. Do you have the courage to make a decision that might change your life? If you knew what you know now, would you still have become a coach?
As Jim Rohn, a renowned entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker, once said: “You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.” It’s your time; be a coach.
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