By their very nature, coaches are frequently unique individuals who flourish outside of the constraints of standard job frameworks. Great coaches often don’t make great employees. These are the free spirits, rebels, and dreamers. They often don’t make good cogs in the capitalist wheel.

However, sometimes, maybe too often, a coach's pursuit of independence and creativity can lead them right into the center of toxic conformity, trying to do it "right" and be like all the other cool coaches on the block. They unintentionally embrace conventional, or even predatory,  business practices and marketing philosophies that stifle their natural wild spirit.

The reality for the creative individual, wild soul human who chooses to coach, is that many of them want to express individuality but end up losing themselves in being like everyone else because they have been trained to believe there is only one way to be a successful coach.

YOUR INNER REBEL IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE BUSINESS ASSET. 

If it starts feeling like a popularity contest or you’re working more hours than you did at your previous 9-5, the dream is already dead - even if you don’t know it yet. Coaching should make you more of who you are and more curious about who you are becoming. You’re going to have to fight for your wildness because if you lose it you will be nearly invisible.

Here are some ways to prevent losing yourself in the noise and build your best life through your coaching practice.

Let Your Freak Flag Fly

Recognize that your most valuable qualities as a unique human and coach are your distinct experiences, background, and viewpoints. Accept your uniqueness and make the most of it when developing your coaching style.

Find Your Spot

Choose a specialization or field of study that aligns with your interests and passions. Determining your niche offers your coaching practice emphasis and clarity, whether it be adventure coaching, creative coaching, or a niche that combines several disciplines.

Develop Your Creativity

Participate in inspiring activities to cultivate a creative mentality, such as brainstorming sessions, nature walks, painting, or music. Innovation is fueled by creativity, so as a coach, you'll be on the lookout for novel concepts and viewpoints to enhance your coaching sessions.

Be More Brave than You Want To Be

Try new coaching methods, resources, and approaches. Be willing to do all of it scared. Finding what works best for you and your clients requires experimentation. Iterate on your techniques, be receptive to criticism, and adjust your approach to meet your clients where they are.

Be You , Do You, For You

Promote self-expression in both yourself and your clients. In coaching interactions, authenticity and vulnerability foster strong bonds and mutual trust. Openly share your experiences, stories, and thoughts with clients so they can get to know the true person behind the coach.

Place a Focus on Active Learning

Make a commitment to ongoing education and development. Keep abreast of market developments, participate in seminars or training courses, look for coaching guidance from seasoned professionals, and make personal development investments. You will be able to provide your clients with more insightful advice as you gain more knowledge.

Create a Network of Support

Be in the company of like-minded people. Make connections with other coaches, participate in cooperative projects, and become a part of communities or mastermind groups. An effective support system offers resources, motivation, and encouragement.

Stay Fluid

Coaching that isn't traditional is dynamic and always changing. Remain adaptable and versatile in your coaching methods, approaches, and services. Be prepared to change course, improve your strategy, and iterate in response to client demands, developing trends, and feedback.

Celebrate the Wins

Honor each accomplishment, no matter how tiny. Celebrate successes, take stock of your coaching development, and acknowledge the difference you're making in your clients' lives. Don’t try to fuel your feel good with external validation. Be your own biggest cheerleader.

Remember Your Why

Finally, never forget the reasons behind your decision to become a coach. Reestablish a connection with your coaching practice's goals, values, and purpose. If you are genuine and passionate about what you do, your people will find you.

The Coaching Guild is a training coach training program specifically designed to nurture dreamers, artists, creatives, outsiders, rebels, and good troublemakers. You know, the kinds of people who tend to be introverts. It is a multi-instructor, multi-disciplinary approach to training that prioritizes learning innovative foundational coaching skills and marketing training.

If you are interested in coach training done very differently, hit me up for a no-pressure, no BS, no trip, and fall into a sales funnel conversation. Let's talk about what's possible for you as a coach.