You're a new coach. How can you improve your coaching skills quickly?

While I do agree that certification is a great way to gain credibility in your craft. I believe it should be more ancillary. The foundations should be built first. The best way to build that foundation is to be coached and mentored yourself. There are many Meetups conducted in every coaching niche. My advice would be to join as many of them as possible if you have already discovered your preferred niche. Mingle and collaborate with the people and thought leaders who are already engaged in your niche. Learn the foundations from them, aquire a mentor if possible. Take the initiative, outside of those Meetups and read articles, case studies, read books, and listen to podcasts on the subject matter. Then verify your knowledge with certification

The best advice I received after I took my very first course in coaching was: Go out there and coach. It felt difficult and vulnerable, as I wasn't even close to completing my training. Yet I took that advice and with each and every session, I learned from mistakes and successes. It's helped me hone my craft in more ways than I can count!

Getting certified gives confidence not just to your clients but also boost your self esteem. But getting certified for name sake should not be the goal, the real goal should be learning as much as you can from the course or training. And therefore its important to enroll with a institute which provides meaningful learnings that enhances your skills in the particular domain. Coaching business is in boom these days, and therefore to create your own niche becomes crucial. Choose a certification program only after understanding your niche or target audience you want to focus on. Only certification will attract clients initially, but for survival and success the real knowledge will play its role.

Well, as there are weekend "certification" programs aplenty, it's not the certification that matters, but what it represents. I initially paid $300 for a weekend program and at the end was told, "You're now a COACH! Go find clients and make some money!" Ummmmm ... but I still don't know much about how to actually coach. Now that I'm in an ICF (International Coaching Federation) certification program, I realize just how much knowledge and skill a coach needs to capably fill the role and help clients move forward. I wouldn't say that certification is necessary. But knowledge and skill for the role matters A LOT. Like doctors, we need to learn how to "do no harm" as we coach. Critical thinking is a must-have skill.

Here's how we can quickly boost our coaching skills as a newcomer: 1. Active Listening: Be fully present, truly hear your clients without judgement. Ask clarifying questions, summarize key points. 2. Powerful Questions: Ditch yes/no, delve deeper with "Why?", "How?", "What might be...?" Guide self-discovery, not giving answers. 3. Feedback Magic: Focus on specific observations, positive impact, and actionable suggestions. Frame as learning opportunities, not criticisms. 4. Goal Setting: Collaborate to define SMART goals, break them down, and track progress. Foster accountability and celebrate wins.

Think about mentoring in 3d, one mentor ahead of you who’s more expressive and willing to train you. Then find a bunch of coaches on the same level and do peer coaching, learn from each other as you’re all in the same situation and having a cheer squad is a great way when starting your career. From the start look for somebody to mentor, you only need to be one step ahead to be able to pass on what you learned.

Don't play the lone wolf in coaching. We all think we know it all, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Partner up with a coach or mentor to help you navigate your coaching journey.

Ce n'est pas un hasard si dans la tradition martiale, ou dans toute approche à caractère initiatique, le mentor occupe une place incontournable dans l'initiation. Le mentor, ou l'initiateur, est celui qui permet, comme l'étymologie du mot "initio" l'indique d'effectuer un nouveau commencement dans sa vie. Un nouveau départ. Il pousse à la découverte de notre propre "maître" ou coach intérieur. Il est un instructeur dans le sens "structurer de l'intérieur". C'est pourquoi le vieil adage nous dit : " Quand l'élève est prêt, le maître arrive. Et quand il est vraiment prêt, le maître s'en va..."

One of the most impactful actions that I took when pivoting to a coaching career is seeking out a mentor that I felt could assist me in reaching my goals as a coach. Research coaches where their material connects with your values and competencies that connect with your personal style. Attend meetings at your local International Coaching Federation chapter to meet a variety of coaches with different levels of experience. Once you have nailed down the skills you want to develop, reach out proactively to those that you feel will be a great mentor for you. You would be surprised as I had some best selling authors and they responded by email within a day or two. I still stay in touch with them to this day and have supported my growth.

Improving as a new coach? Get a mentor. Success is largely mindset and consistent practice. Start by working on your mindset, then find a mentor. Many new coaches think success follows right after certification, but it's about more than just that. Real growth comes from consistent effort, hard work, and patience. A mentor offers invaluable guidance, helping you focus and master skills one at a time. This approach ensures a solid foundation in coaching. It's not just about learning techniques; it’s about developing the right mindset for lasting success. A mentor’s experience is crucial in this journey, offering insights and feedback that can significantly accelerate your growth as a coach.

One great tip I received earlier on - pick one powerful question each week and ask it of each client. Something simple and powerful like, “What do you make of that?” It helped me load powerful questions into my brain and also see where it took people. When we ask open, thought provoking questions we send the person in a direction. Over time I came to understand the idea: don’t ask questions the person can answer easily. This is where we add value. Cheers

C'est certainement le point clé le plus important de la démarche de coaching. Un de mes plus grand enseignants me disait au fil des années : "Yoann, tu auras beau venir me voir pour recevoir des techniques, lire tous les livres sur le sujet que tu souhaites, ceux qui t'apprendront vraiment le coaching, ce sont les personnes que tu recevras dans ton cabinet." Comme il avait raison. Coacher quelqu'un, c'est surtout répondre à la résolution de problèmes. Les véritables coachs sont en fait ceux que nous coachons. Qui est le maître ? Qui est l'élève ? Et si le véritable coach était en fait l'élève du coaché. Par cette réflexion, il le pousse à trouver ses propres réponses grâce à ses techniques.

Practice constantly. Make use of your friends and colleagues, but have serious sessions with them. Pro bono coaching hours are of great help and make sure to get feedback.

When getting certified the coach could have made some friends in that journey. It would be good to stay in touch with some of them and keep doing role plays especially of Discovery calls. This helps in honing the skills so that the coach can be more prepared when they meet an actual client

Free coaching sessions can be a good way to practice coaching. Don't forget to take critical feedback from the 'clients'. Don't forget to reach out to your colleagues and friends for the same with the condition of brutal honest feedback.

A effective and authentic coach is one who also works on themselves regularly through self reflection and introspection. Self awareness and being present in the moment is crucial to making impact on others

The following could be of relevance:- - Self discipline - Introspection - Getting inspired from other's success stories - Consistency

I feel one of the most important things is to introspect. The minute you introspect you get a new idea and then when you apply it. It becomes a game changer.

It's no coincidence that reflective practice is a key skill for a coach. I also say that in my courses. Learning happens through reflection. If we just practice, practice, run, run, and never stop, we won't give ourselves a chance to learn and grow. One way I build this into my own courses is to require participants to submit a reflection after every session they attend. It's easy to look at others. Reflection, as it says, looks at ourselves. It's often a harder look, a much harder look than anything else.

"What went well?" "What could be better?" Two simple questions I always ask myself after coaching sessions that help me reflect and improve as a coach.

Never stop learning. Tonnes of material online. Different certifications available. 100's of coaching tools out there to discover and utilise.

Steve Jobs said it best: 'There's always one more thing to learn.' Stay ahead by joining professional coaching bodies like ICF, AC, or EMCC. It's not just about keeping up; it's about leading with the latest teachings.

One thing that I have found when becoming a coach is that there is no finish line. When I was a leader, I thought I had arrived with a certain title and skill set. As a coach, the industry is always evolving as well as your clients and their positions as leaders and team members in the workplace. Dedicate time consistently to your personal growth and development as a coach. Certification programs can be a big benefit if you are an ICF coach as you also earn credits towards renewal or the next level of your credential. Don't get left behind as a coach and dedicate time consistently to learn from programs, resources, and mentors to assist in your overall development.

The coaching field is dynamically evolving. Even if you are specialising in one specific area, sooner rather than later you will find how much broader your work will be. That's why I think the key for being a successful coach is continuous learning.

Only one way to get better: coach, coach, coach, coach, coach and coach more.... only this way you will find out what works for your clients and yourself

Experimentar algo de forma criativa faz com que desenvolva a habilidade da ação criativa. Pode-se experimentar algo novo através da leitura de livros de Coaching. Em livros sérios de Coaching, há muitas ferramentas e técnicas que você pode fazer consigo antes de aplicar em outras pessoas. Mesmo depois de alguns anos de prática e experiência, os livros sérios de Coaching continuam sendo uma excelente fonte de base e consulta para o Coach Profissional. O buscar o conhecimento é uma constante no universo do Coaching, investir em estudo é buscar o conhecimento. O conhecimento faz com que desenvolva a ação criativa que leva ao experimentar de forma criativa. Lembre-se sempre da Tríade do Sucesso: Estudo, Prática e Fé. Estude, Pratique e Acredite

Network with other coaches and share ideas, experiences and coaching notes (respecting client confidentiality). Learn from master coaches and also from those who are a little ahead of you and have been successful in getting clients and creating transformations.

How about taking improv classes? I believe they can enhance our ability to think on our feet, adapt to unexpected situations, and improve our communication skills - all of which are crucial for effective coaching. Also, incorporating mindfulness practices into our routine can improve our presence and attentiveness during coaching sessions, thereby enhancing our effectiveness. 🙏

What NOT to do as a newcomer to the coaching field; 1- Don’t judge or criticise. It takes some practice to learn how to silence our inner dialogue about labelling someone’s challenge. Always be curious about the client and where do they come from. 2- Don’t be attached to an outcome. As a coach, you might be attached to a specific outcome for your client within the session. Maybe an AHA moment or a breakthrough. It might happen AND it might not. Always be open to exploring and walking along with your client in their own journey. 3- Don’t tell the client what to do. You might have the answers to what your client needs at the moment. Hold yourself from giving answers and ask the right questions till they get their own answers.

In my experience, Masterminds and Brainstorming sessions with other successful coaches, allowed me to bypass researching and attending unnecessary events or reading books that was not in my niche. What was powerful about the collaborative thinking and guidance, is that they shared insider secrets and tools that would fasttrack my own growth and add value to those I coached. I learnt from people with experience rather just qualifications. I also chose to connect with powerful influential coaches, like Christian Simpson - UK and studied his insights, then aligned what was specific to ME, and the journey I wanted to take. There are many coaches and programs available, but you have to have clarity on what YOU want to specialise it. It is key.

Two things for any coaches: Open mindedness and experimenting. As everyone is different , different methods help to improve the effectiveness of coaching individuals or industries- like managing expectations etc