If you are looking to start your own coaching business or are struggling to get started, these top tips from internationally renowned Coaches and Coaching Trainers Karen Meager and John McLachlan will help you ensure your success:
Find your Niche
A lot of new Coaches start out focusing on too broad a range of client types or subject areas because they don’t want to exclude anyone. Contrary to the intention of this, it actually results in fewer enquiries for your services because you are too general, people can’t relate them or their issue to you. Think about:
- Exactly who your ideal client is? What’s their age, lifestyle, common problems in life, job. Don’t be afraid to get very specific
- A lot of people pick client types or subject areas which are similar to those they have encountered and this can make a lot of sense as you can relate well to your clients
- Brainstorm your ideal clients reasons for wanting Coaching, if you are looking for organisational work also think about their reasons for wanting to bring in an external Coach.
Set your Boundaries
Be clear about how you will work as a Coach:
Where will you see clients? Their office, your office, home. Again don’t be afraid to be clear for fear of excluding people – your client might want to meet in a coffee shop, but is this really appropriate? The clearer you are, the more likely you are to attract the right kind of work but be realistic. If you want business clients and you live in the middle of the countryside, you can hardly expect them to come to you (unless you are setting up a retreat of some kind)
How much will you charge? You may have a range of charges, be clear about who fits into what type of charging. What if you have a business client who then wants to see you privately? Be wary of giving away sessions for free. Some people do this but it does tend to attract clients who like to ‘try’ free things and not commit to the work. Maybe do a 30 min Skype or phone call instead. Remember as a Coach your clients should be working at least as hard as you are!
Have your support network in place
One to one coaching can be isolating when it’s you and your clients. Because of confidentiality restraints, you can’t really discuss much of your day with your friends and family. It’s a good idea to have a close network of people in the same profession who you can get together with who will cheer you on and give you a nudge when you need it. This could be the people you’ve trained with, as we often find with our NLP Coach trainees, they remain a support group for each other for all their careers. Also be sure to have a supervisor who you can take client problems and problem clients too and it’s a good idea to belong to an association who has a code of ethics and a complaints process. This helps you in your professional standing as well as protecting both you and your client. You can find lists of coaching supervisors at the following associations; Association for Coaching, ICF, ANLP.
Get qualified as a Coach at our INLPTA NLP Coach Certification. It’s just 4 days if you are already an NLP Practitioner or Master Practitioner.
