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You
can cover a lot of ground if you know how to get your coaching off the
ground!
--Marc Fey
"A
coach champions the cause of the client, trusting in the client's ability
to generate creative solutions, & fuel motivation for the long
haul."
--Marc Fey
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Don't
just get your coaching practice off the ground...make it soar!
It
is possible to start strong, learning from those who have recently started
coaching practices. I will give you a few of the most important
lessons I have learned. Of course, as with anything of value, it will take a lot of
hard work, deep thinking, time in research, and some money (nothing's free, but you already know that...),
strategic networking, and practice.
But if you are
still excited, motivated, pressing forward, after all I just said above--
welcome to the coaching profession! -- a network of fine people who are
inspired by the progress of others, who are continually growing in their
own lives --this, I believe, is the essence of coaching.
In my own work to
get my coaching practice off of the ground, I have taken copious notes,
made a few mistakes, and hit (serendipitously!) on a number of strategies
that have worked. I offer the following information to you,
generously hoping that I might save you a little time in your own learning
curve.
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Read. Read.
And then READ some more. Read on books and articles on the
following categories: executive coaching, life coaching, business
coaching, human resources (internal coaching) and consulting.
What this will do is clearly mark out for you the differences between
each area, especially the difference between coaching and
consulting. On my "Book Reviews" page of my website,
you will find book titles in each of these categories.
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Read. Read.
And then READ some more. Read books on the business end of
starting your coaching practice. A high percentage of your
chance for success will come from your ability to start a new business
as an entrepreneur. On my "Book Reviews" page of
my website, you will find book titles in each of this category.
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Join
professional organizations, including Coachville (see the link below
to join), the International Coaches Federation, and if you have one in
your area, a local chapter of coaches.
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Sign up for
free e-newsletters. You will find a compendium of a few at the
end of this article.
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Visit
coaching and consulting websites every day for three months.
Learn what others are offering, educating yourself to define what is
your special niche in the coaching industry, and teaching you how to
communicate about your skills, experience, and unique offering to
clients.
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Don't spend a
lot of money up front for training, but definitely spend money on
training when you think you have gotten a "lay of the land"
for what is out there. Coachville has a great comparison listing
of all of the coaching schools, available through their website.
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Find a system
to begin tracking your coaching clients. I have a spreadsheet
that I would be happy to send to you (marc@lifeascentcoaching.com)
if you are interested. The key: begin to be very intentional in
your relationships with those you want to coach.
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Coach.
For free. you might even pay others...hold on, let me explain...
Ask individuals who you know who are well-connected to be a client who
would pay by serving as a referral for you. Tell them you have a
lot to learn, and would love the opportunity to formalize your time
with him or her for the benefit of both of you.
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Take
notes. On what you do, who you talk to, what you accomplish each
day, etc. A running journal of your work will give you
information to develop a system that is intentional, smart, and
forward-leaning.
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Develop a
website. I use FrontPage 2000, with graphic help from David
Rhody (see my website for contacting him, an expert on branding,
marketing, and logo design-- about $500 for the whole package, but
you'll have to do the website work--not hard to learn, and then you
can revise your site frequently). Hosting can be
expensive. I found www.BeHosting.com
to be very helpful and affordable. Mention my name and practice
when you contact them.
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Find a
mentor. It may cost you some money, but two things happen:
first, you get on your own learning curve, experiencing the very thing
you are offering to clients, and secondly, you have objective input
from another person who is committed to your success. This could
save you years of time, if you choose the right coach. Besides,
most accrediting organizations (ICF for example) require the
supervision of another coach.
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Set
goals. When will you get your first client? When will you
get your website up and running? When will you begin a coaches'
training program? When will you join professional
organizations? Who will champion your own progress? What
financial goals do you have for your coaching practice? When
will you have your media / public relations kit finished? Will
you offer the option for Visa and credit card payments? And a
hundred other questions...
How does it
sound? Overwhelming? Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help
you.
Learn
more about how you can get a coaching practice soaring-- not only is it possible, it's profoundly worth
it.
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