10-Ways to Get the Most From Working with a Coach

by | Feb 12, 2021 | UNSTUCK Business

Check your attitude at the door. For starters. I used to be a smartypants who didn’t think she needed a business coach. But by the end of 2020, 10-months after officially launching my copywriting business, I began to think differently. Even though I’d previously owned two businesses, I found myself overwhelmed with ALL the things and struggling to find focus. So when asked, “do you think coaching might help?” I thought, “it can’t hurt” and I signed up for six months of coaching. Five months later I have a whole new perspective and appreciation for the process. Below I’ve shared my top 10 nuggets of advice to get the most out of your coaching experience:

  1. Come with an open mind – Like any program, educational opportunity, or even therapy, showing up with an open mind is super important. After all, you’re there because you want to change something. Right? If you show up with an open mind, you’re going to be open to someone else’s point of view, and possibly see things through a fresh set of eyes.
  1. Show up with an open heart – This is similar to number one above but has more to do with being willing to receive feedback and being open to making a connection with your coach. One thing that I will point out here is that a successful client/coach relationship needs chemistry, just like other relationships. Not every match is a good fit, so before you sign up, be sure you feel good about your coach, beyond their credentials and experience.
  1. Listen – Hearing and listening are not the same things, obviously. When it’s your turn to listen, don’t just sit there and think about what you just said, or the next thing your going to say, or what you’re going to have for dinner. Be still, look at your coach while she’s talking, and soak in what she has to say.
  1. Be vulnerable – You have to be willing to say the hard things. That’s the real meat of the coaching process. If you sugarcoat or try to wrap everything up in a beautiful package with a bright red bow, I can almost guarantee you’ll get nowhere. This is one of the reasons why the client/coach relationship is so important. When you feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable, that’s when the real work begins.
  1. Forget everything you know – Not everything you know, but everything you think you know about coaching. These are credentialed professionals with many hours of training and experience. So when you go in with an open mind (see number one) this also means to let go of any preconceived notions about what a coach or session “should” be. Your journey to success is unique.
  1. Be ready and willing to take action – You can accomplish a lot in six months if you’re committed to the process and ready to take action. On the other hand, you can also waste six months and be exactly where you were when you started. So from day one, be committed to taking the necessary steps to achieve your objectives. 
  1. Be coachable – Keep an open mind (see number one), and be willing to try the things your coach suggests. One of the worst things you can say is “oh I tried that and it didn’t work for me”. Maybe so. But did you really try it? And to what extent? Before dismissing what your coach has to say, listen, absorb and be open and willing to try again.
  1. Be honest – These are YOUR sessions and it’s your investment. So don’t waste your time or money, or your coach’s time by being misleading. This one seems to be obvious, but I think it’s worth adding to the list. If you struggle to be vulnerable, and honest why bother? Your time will be wasted.
  1. Don’t be afraid to give yourself deadlines – It’s very likely that during your sessions you’ll be asked to set a deadline for an action step. This can feel scary because a deadline means that now it’s a real thing, and you’ve said it out loud. You might not meet every deadline, but I can promise you that without a deadline you’ll struggle to make progress.
  1. Hold yourself accountable – Take your deadlines seriously, if you want to make measurable progress. These sessions are for you, not your coach, who is just there to be your guide. You’re the one who has to take action, if you want to achieve your goals.

When you’re looking to hire a coach, do your due diligence. If someone sounds promising, and they offer a sample or complimentary session, do it! Afterward, if you decide they’re not the right fit, that’s OK, just let them know. Beyond their experience, credentials, and testimonials, you have to trust your gut, which is subjective. So take your time. And when you’ve decided on the right coach for you, remember these steps if you want to get the most out of your coaching experience.

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Toby Myles is a copywriter and owner of Toby Myles Copywriting where she helps women-owned businesses grow and earn more money through clear and consistent messaging. Grab Toby’s FREE Guide: 52-Weeks of Blog Content in 4-Easy Steps. It’s jam-packed with simple, actionable steps to create a year’s worth of blog content. 

Toby is a client at Unstuck Coaching, and this blog is inspired by her personal experience.

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