Feeling Stuck as a Coach? Discover How to Get Ahead in Your Coaching Business
Many coaches hit a wall, feeling lost in running a coaching business. It’s not just about the coaching—it’s about thinking like a business owner and avoiding common pitfalls. Do you know what’s holding you back? Tell us which one (or more) of these sounds right…
1. Adopt a Business Mindset for Coaching Success
Coaches often dive into their work with a passion for helping others but forget the business side. To make it, you need to think like a business owner. This means knowing about taxes, costs, and how to market and sell your coaching, among other things. Advanced coaches know: “You need to take on the identity of a business owner!” Without this mindset, coaches often get stuck doing things that don’t really help their business grow.
Application Tip: Write a simple business plan. List your goals, who you want to reach, and the key steps you need to take. Don’t forget to include your financial goals and work backwards to figure out how you’ll need to make offers to clients. This will keep you on track and focused on what really matters.
2. Skip the Busy Work: Focus on What Really Counts
It’s WAY too easy to get caught up in tasks that seem important but don’t actually help your business grow, like perfecting a website or a fancy business card. While these things have their place, they shouldn’t replace building real connections and having meaningful conversations. Experienced coaches know: if you’re not having conversations, you’re not getting the experience you need. Focus on what directly helps you get clients and grow.
Application Tip: Set aside time each week just for outreach and talking to clients. Track what you’re doing and tweak your approach based on what works. Notice how you’re FEELING through the process and get used to that!
3. Build Confidence Through Doing and Community
Lack of confidence can hold coaches back, especially when it comes to pricing and getting clients. Without confidence, it’s hard to show your value and ask for what it’s worth. Daniel says that “Confidence is built through experience.” Joining a community like CMC can give you the feedback and support you need to build your confidence. Seeing others succeed can inspire and push you to go beyond your comfort zone.
Application Tip: Join a supportive group of coaches, like CMC, where you can learn faster, and get critical support and encouragement, strategies, tactics, and direction, along with professional development. Be active in discussions and ask for feedback to sharpen your skills.
Stay Committed and Keep Moving
Succeeding in coaching takes more than just skills; it takes dedication to growing and a readiness to tackle the business side. By focusing on the right things, building your confidence, and being part of a community, you can overcome the usual hurdles coaches face. For more on these topics, check out our podcast or subscribe to our blog, or just join our free FB community already!
Question: What challenges have you encountered in your coaching journey, and how have you overcome them? Share your stories and insights with us by replying with a comment.
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Reply with your thoughts on this article, and don’t forget to check out our podcast for deeper discussions on coaching mastery!
Keep Coaching,
Daniel & Faisal,
Co-Hosts of The Coaches Journey Podcast