Q: A year from now, I want to quit being an employee to become an executive coach. The coaching business excites me as it resonates with my values and fuels my passion for wanting to be a good and successful coach. Now I am spending quite a bit of time reading and researching about it, including investing in a coaching programme. Although I am excited about being a coach, I want to make sure I have taken all the right steps to become one. What advice do you have for me?
A: Success in the coaching business is both a combination of good personal values and professional competencies. From what you said about yourself, you are on the right track to becoming one as you are staying calm and collected while combing through all the crucial areas that will bring you success, without missing any important ones.
Among the right things to do now is to spend some time talking to people in this business, while you do your research to test all your assumptions on what it takes to be successful in your coaching business. Once you have the basics right, set an inspiring coaching mission like “doubling up the success and fulfilment of leaders”. This will be more powerful than a conventional business statement like “offering executive coaching service to leaders”. Once this is done, set your business goals realistically so that you neither underachieve nor make those goals impossible to achieve. Then, work out your strategies on how you can deliver your services most effectively and uniquely to achieve your mission. Finally, take note that having an ambition is not enough. You need to build your perseverance and resilience to face the good and bad times well. With all these in place, you will surely be on the right track to success. So see you at the top, soon!
POWERFUL QUESTIONS
- What will inspire you in your coaching business?
- What do you want to build on from where you are now?
- What do you need to watch out for?
- Who do you want to share your vision with?
The Business of Professional Coaching workshop is the module 5 of the Certified Professional Coach program.
Tagged line “The Success Factor in Professional Coach’, it helps you lay a strong coaching career foundation & promote yourself as a professional coach.