I love this photograph of coach and player. The two are singularly engaged in dialogue. The player seems to absorb the words from the coach. The plan, of course, is for the player to put into action what he’s learned.
People frequently ask me about coaching. “What is it that you really do?”
My short answer:
I help successful people get amazing results.
The next question is usually: Are you a life coach?
My answer:
No!
There are all kinds of coaches from sports to business to life. I focus on the business side — not that there’s anything wrong with life coaching, it’s just not my focus. I’ve also been a running coach for 5 years, and I handle runners differently than I do my business clients.
While my clients can be described as ‘successful,’ in many ways they are not feeling such when they come to me. Perhaps it’s a temporary setback they’ve incurred or are trying to get to another level and need help over the hurdle. Or they don’t like the results they’ve been getting and aren’t sure how to proceed.
My coaching approach is actionable — the action coming primarily from the client. I emphasize client development to build confidence and skills. Unlike the coach in the photograph, I’m not giving a bunch of instructions, but asking questions and getting out of the way. Some coaches give advice and do a lot of hand-holding. That’s not me. How would I be building your confidence and skills if I did that?
I hold my clients accountable. I set up custom processes and systems
for my clients to follow and integrate within their life. No one process or system will work for every client.
The majority of my clients are experiencing midlife issues — they’ve achieved a certain level or status in their professional life, but find it no longer holds the key to happiness it previously did or they thought it would.
The list is endless, but here are 8 reasons why clients hire me:
- Changing careers – midlife reinvention.
- Creating new and efficient ways to attract clients.
- Learning new ways to manage time.
- Wanting to change careers, but don’t know what they want to do.
- Handling issues of moving from solopreneur to entrepreneur.
- Learning how to spend less time at work and more time with family.
- Discovering and moving past the fears are holding you back.
- Learning how to go from employee to business owner.
Accountability is vitally important in the coach-client relationship. If the client expects me to do all the work, I know that’s not the client for me. I’m invested in my clients’ success. Because their success is my success.
Photo by: ADMorales1
