Recently certified professional coaches often ask me, “How do I gain credibility as a coach because my clients know that I am just a beginner coach?”
So, how do you bridge this gap between gaining credibility?
Trust that what got you here will also get you there,
Embrace and adopt all the experiences which led you to train as a professionally certified coach. Give value to the knowledge, beliefs, skills and qualities that make you the coach you are today. Let go of the “beginner” mentality and remember that you are not just the certificate you gain but much more than that; apart from your coach training, you have the required pre-existing skills and strengths that make you unique.
1. You Have to Start Somewhere, But Get as Many Experiences as You Can and as Soon as Possible:
Don’t wait to launch your new website, read another coaching book, or come up with a blog – start early and seize every opportunity to coach now. You can always begin pro-bono coaching to build experience, gain coaching confidence and credibility. Remember to ask for reviews, feedback, testimonials, referrals and newsletter sign-ups if you have one.
2. Gain Credibility by Associating Yourself with an Organization:
If you are in a hurry to get to coaching instead of building on your brand, you could seek to associate yourself with a coaching company. However, you must have a specific set of skills, and the coaching school might require particular coaching experience. The real benefit of being an associate coach is that you can acquire instant credibility if an established coaching school backs you.
3. Make Use of Your Comfort Zone:
Spread the news of you being a professionally certified coach in your professional and personal networks, telling them that you are open to work. Draw on your industry experience, use the fact that people know that you understand the particular challenges. Instead of starting a life from scratch, build on your previous experience and gain coaching credibility with your existing knowledge.
4. Reflect On Your Specialization:
Some coaches select their niche to coach certain types of clients, some on a present issue. If your name is associated with a specific industry experience topic, it is better to consider which niche you want to focus on. Integrate your whole life experience into designing your coaching offering. Take into consideration what elements of your own life have been most significant, helpful or developmental. With what kinds of clients or certain topics do you feel at flow to coach?
5. Be The Best of You!
Commit and believe in being a true catalyst of change. Work to make every coaching session a powerful and memorable experience for your clients. Commit to continuous professional development and work towards your next ICF credentialing. Gain regular supervision. Supervision is a wonderful opportunity to learn new skills and boost confidence.
A final thought: “Nothing ever becomes real ‘til it is experienced.” John Keats
If you are looking to become a credible coach, gain your ICF coaching certification with us. Email us now at info@flowcoachinginstitute.com