Personal Coaching’s Post

Three Questions Throughout the book I just finished drafting (which will be out in May!) I share lots of interactions with Coach Andrew Moss . I wrote these in deliberately to illustrate the power of the coaching partnership. In fact, early in the drafting process I included many more interactions with my coach. Then one day I thought: “Andrew, I think I’ve been giving you too much credit…“ I swear I am not making this up – I heard Andrew‘s voice and his gentle chuckle as he replied in my head “I think so too, Kay.“ It was a new understanding of something important. That while I did get tons of support – from Andrew, from my beloved coaching peers – the things I brought about in my life were not created by anyone outside of myself. I picked my direction. I took the steps. I made the commitments and I kept them. Which just goes to show that anything is possible when we BELIEVE. If I can do this, then literally anyone can. Yet I wouldn’t have done it without this support. Having someone in our corner who isn’t directly involved in the day-to-day experience of our life changes everything. This is because it’s super hard to be objective with the people closest to us… A coach has a different, more objective, and higher level view. ~ So first, who is this person for you? Do you have someone in your life who is not interested in telling you what they think you should do but instead is curious about what you’d like for yourself? Someone who can help you look past your blocks and fears and overwhelm to envision that.. someone who can help you build towards your vision for yourself. ~ I have another question for you: what is it that you’d like? What do you want to have happen in your life, what’s the direction you’d like to be going in? It may be very different from what those around you want or expect of you and that is okay. They simply may not know yet that the best way for everyone to be contented, fulfilled and happy is for us all to mind our own business. To cheer each other on instead of worrying about each other and telling each other what to do. ~ Which brings up a third question… I’m curious, can I be helpful for you on your journey? Message me here or at kaylockkolp.com/contact… let’s have a conversation. There are no strings attached to this conversation. It’s simply us, talking. Me showing up with my curiosity about who you are at your heart, and what you’d like your life to be like… And you, feeling safe as you consider those questions for yourself. I’m excited to hear from you and I am wishing you well! So much love, Kay #insideout #coaching

Before enlisting anyone to help you or your team, you must know the difference between coaches and consultants. The short answer: A coach takes you on a self-reflecting journey to uncover your own blind spots and grow in certain areas. A consultant will instruct you on what to do and how to do it to obtain a result. Both coaches and consultants are there to help you, but it's the method of doing so that differs.  https://lnkd.in/eNfT5RGW?

One of the best things about coaches is that we tune in to the client's experience and wisdom, so every engagement is customized to the client.

Did you know that a coach isn't there to give you advice or tell you what to do? A coach is there as your partner to help you achieve your dreams. You can read more about it in my latest blog post. https://lnkd.in/grY33swR

Do you need extensive experience to attract paying clients as a personal coach? Coaching seems ubiquitous these days. With so many coaches available, it's easy to assume that finding a qualified one is challenging. Clients might feel they should only pay for coaches with years of study, decades of experience, and numerous testimonials from prestigious companies. But is that really what makes a coach a valuable thinking partner? Understanding the primary skill of an effective coach might change your perspective. Undistracted, active listening What distinguishes an effective coach from a good friend is their ability to provide undistracted, active listening—a rarity in everyday conversations. While experience and wisdom are undeniably valuable, active listening, curiosity, and the ability to notice patterns and provide fresh insights form the foundation of effective coaching. The relationship between coach and client thrives in a safe, honest, and non-judgemental space, irrespective of the coach’s diplomas or hours logged. I hold great respect for coaches with extensive and profound experience, and I aspire to join their ranks one day. However, the essence of this profession lies in qualities that many younger coaches already possess: undistracted active listening and a strong desire to be their clients’ thinking partners. Would you consider hiring someone who Is just starting out? Why or why not?

📣 Attention Coaches! A consultation call (or discovery call - whatever you want to call it!) with a new client is a really powerful opportunity to make a great first impression, and lay the foundations for a long and successful coaching relationship! But... Preparation is key! 🔑 I don’t believe this is the kind of thing you can shoehorn between millions of other tasks or between training and trying to fit your meals in! Here are my top 5️⃣ tips for preparing for a call with a new client, to set you both up for success: 1️⃣Prepare questions in advance or use a consultation form: Have a list of thoughtful and open-ended questions to ask the client during the call. Choose questions that explore the client’s motivations, past experiences, obstacles, expectations, and readiness for change to get to know them better and find out if you’re a good fit to work together. 2️⃣Do your research: I recommend using a pre-consultation form so you have an idea of your client’s struggles before even getting on the call. This also gives you time to research anything that you need to before speaking to them. 3️⃣Use active listening skills: Listen attentively and ask clarifying questions to ensure you thoroughly understand what the client is telling you. Don’t just wait for your turn to speak and sell your coaching programme - make sure you’re truly listening and understanding. 4️⃣Watch out for technical issues: First of all, make sure you’re in an appropriate setting for the call - somewhere quiet where you won’t be distracted. Then, check that everything is working as it should - WiFi, Zoom, headphones, etc. Test it all in advance so you’re not caught out at the last minute. 5️⃣Explain what happens next: Make sure the client knows exactly what will happen and when after you get off the call. Will you be sending them an email? Are you asking them to download an app? Are you sending out a Welcome Pack? Let them know so there’s no confusion. What are your go-to strategies for prepping for a consultation call? What lessons have you learned from calls you’ve done? If this post has been useful, don’t forget to save it, share it, or tag a fellow Coach! 🙏🏻

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COACHES REGULARLY REJECT CLIENTS The logic is simple: NOT making your coaching available to people you are NOT 100% confident will have success = your process/program having a crazy-high success rate. This is what makes the coach 'successful'. Not having a bazillion people who have paid you for something... But having a super high PERCENTAGE of those people actually have massive transformation. Even if it's a small number of people, it means you're a high-level coach (take not those of you just starting out! 💙) The number of people you've worked with is irrelevant... How many of those people actually experienced permanent positive change is everything. The problem in making this work is that it requires a screening process for every single person who is interested in working with you. This can be done to a certain extent in an automated way, but the most effective way is to speak to them in person. I.e. interview them. It's time-consuming, but this is how we do it at Led by Love. The other thing with speaking in person, is that if they're NOT a good fit, you have to be the one to let them know (and hopefully point towards something else that may work better for them). This doesn't always feel good to do... But it requires levels of: 💎 Integrity 💎 Boundaries 💎 Standards 💎 Abundance-mindedness ....that everyone can feel. It can't be faked. And if you can operate in this way, both your and your client's success is absolutely guaranteed 🙏

When is it time to refer out a coaching client to another professional? Navigating this maze can be tricky, but our latest blog post is here to guide you. You’ll learn: ➡️ Signs that suggest a referral might be needed. ➡️ Ethical ways to handle such situations, with insights from the ICF (@icfheadquarters). ➡️ Tips on building a solid referral network. ➡️ The importance of continuous education and why it matters in making these decisions. Getting competent with referring out means you’ll always be ready to serve your client’s best interests while upholding the highest professional standards. #LifeCoaching #LifeCoachingTips #ICFCoach #LifeCoachTraining

No Nonsense Tip of the Day: Having trouble connecting with or helping someone? 1️⃣ The number one thing that we see when we do coaching with other coaches is the MYTH that logic, facts and expertise are enough to change the behavior of somebody. They’re not. You’re only an expert in somebody’s eyes when they invite you into their life as one - when you build that trust. Because that’s what buy in is trust plus commitment. 2️⃣ Are you overly task focused? Stop going into an interaction wanting to solve a problem right then and there. Yes, building trust is a long game. Yes, this is what we coach people to do. By appealing to their emotions, listening to them and also just understanding that time needs to pass for you to build buy in is one of the key factors. 3️⃣ How do I do it? We have numerous resources like my book Conscious Coaching or our Online Courses, so if that’s your speed, GO FOR IT. But one of the most valuable things you can do to get better at building buy in is roleplay. Practice your interactions in a low risk environment where you can get feedback and multiple reps BEFORE you have the real thing. Just like any other skill, social agility takes practice and refinement. 4️⃣ COACHING is not knowing and being able to do the x’s and o’s of your craft. It is the skill of interacting, the skill of listening ,the skill of discerning what drives somebody. What makes them tick? And then how do you zero in on that? Your job as a coach is to connect with people and then help them from the inside out. SO ask yourself, How much am I relying on trying to convince this person through logic? How much am I relying on giving them facts, research, education? How much am I handicapped, because essentially, I’m thinking that what I know, is what they’re going to understand if I just tell them. That is not going to be the case. Get to know them. Listen and be ready for the moment they invite you in.

I had an uncomfortable experience with a coaching firm today. My gut feeling said "RUN!" but I am curious what other people would have done. I saw marketing on LinkedIn for a consultant coaching service, so inquired for some info. They lined up a call with me, and immediately began recording the Teams call without asking me. The line of questioning was on the lines of "who are your clients and what are you working on with them?" When I objected to being recorded and giving away sensitive info, the chap directly said "well if you wont cooperate, I will just end the call now". Do you expect me to just capitulate and say "oh go on then... I will tell you everything?" Picking this apart, the first alarm bell is about expectation setting. Had I known what would have been asked in the call, we could have set up an NDA including no compete clause in advance, or just declined to meet. Also, WHY do you need to know who I work with? Surely, the type of client is enough, unless you want to approach them directly. I do not list current my client on LinkedIn for this exact reason. Secondly, if anyone gives me a "take it or leave it" scenario, I am going to be walking away immediately. The tone just felt off, and bluntly, I like to do business with people who make an effort to connect on a human level. Put me on the spot, and I will back away. Third, you want my money, you're selling something. Tell me what you are offering and make it worth my time? Seems mighty counter-intuitive to ask me to sell myself to you, unless its some form of test? Just odd, no sale, and 30 mins of lunch where I could have been off in the sunshine walking - wasted!