5 Issues faced by New Coach

Introduction (Issues faced by New Coach):

If you're reading this article, then you are either a new coach or are planning to become a coach. And I understand you are curious to make this journey as smooth as possible. Fairly so, what is the need to reinvent the wheel? We can always learn from those who have done this and created the systems for us to use.

We coaches stand on the shoulders of Giants. As each one of us brings a personal flavor to the processes and techniques, we are repeating and imitating those before us. The best coaches created systems for us to follow, to share and to pass on to others after them. And we owe our success to them as much as to our tireless efforts.

I have been coaching for a fairly long time now, but I still remember the struggles of being a new coach. 

Most people start out as a coach because they have a burning desire to help others, even if that means studying for long hours and practicing to understand things right. Many get into coaching because they have a natural knack for knowing what course of action to take. And they have their family, friends and often acquaintances coming to them for help every now and then. Becoming a coach as a professional is a natural choice for them. 

5  Common Issues:

No matter where you come from, some issues we face are quite common:

1. Impostor Syndrome
2. Listening more than speaking
3. Clients who do not find value in your work or words
4. Clients who remain stuck
5. Monetization

Let’s decode these one by one

1. Imposter Syndrome

Not only in coaching, but in almost every body of knowledge, after studying and getting knowledge, there is a gap when you are required to start doing what you learnt and start putting your knowledge into practice. And in this gap, the new coach starts feeling,

“I have not learnt enough”

“ I am not good enough”

“ I am not doing a good job”

“ I need to learn more”

“ I need to get more knowledge”

“ they will think I am a fraud”

Or simply

“I am a fraud”

Sometimes, you are able to get over this gap and keep moving. Sometimes you are stuck and might decide to quit. How do you deal with this “Not Good Enough” feeling?

2. Listening more than Speaking

Or speaking more than listening? Or knowing when to speak and when to listen? 

If you are like me, you might have started with a label of being a ‘good listener’. People poured their hearts out to you, and you were patient with them. And sometimes you gave advice. Some advice was taken and some ignored. So you went and learnt the entire body of knowledge that is relevant for the people who need help. And now they better listen!

Or, you know you know so much. And you have turned around your life, so you are an authority in turning lives around. So, when the client has a problem they are stuck in, and you know the exact formula for turning it around, they better listen to you.

And then there are clients who go on rants, weaving stories after stories. There is a lot of relevant information there, but where do I interrupt and where do I let them make their hearts light by sharing.

Now, the books say that as a coach and counselor, you should listen more than you speak. 

"When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen." --Ernest Hemingway

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." --Stephen R. Covey

But as a new coach, you may find this a constant struggle- how much to speak and how much to listen.

3. Clients who do not find value in your work or words

Clients come with their own set of values. They are stuck in their issues because of some perspectives, and language and thinking patterns. However, they have done it for a long long time. And asking them to change those patterns might be anything from a gentle nudge to a big push. We as coaches are in no position to understand which one it is- nudge or push. So, when we propose changes to our clients, they might reject or push back. Or sometimes, agree to do what we suggest but not do it at all. 

In addition to this, the client's set of experiences might also make them feel that what they know is the best possibility. How often have clients come to us, only because somebody asked them to, and not of their own will. They either think that the issue is beyond helping or that we are not qualified enough to help them. 

4. Clients who remain stuck

Many coaches find themselves sitting session after session with a client who is not making any progress. They are either not doing the homework that we give them, not understanding what we say, or generally not able to make a shift, falling into the same patterns again and again. 

There are also clients who outright tell us, “ this wont work” or “this wont work with me”

People who are opposed to even testing the possibility of our work with them creating any change. 

5. Monetization 

Whenever we work and it brings value to someone, it is our right to be compensated for it. However, most new coaches face this scenario where they are not getting paid for a long time. This might mean giving out free sessions one after another, or being undercompensated, or not even knowing how to enter the market, and getting their wares up for sale. 

How to Deal with these Issues?

There are no generic answers to these questions. And having studied NLP for more than a year, working with clients and fellow coaches, every single day, I have come to realize that each coach operates from a different mindset and personal limiting beliefs. 

Or sometimes it is the technique that is lacking.

How did I Overcome these Challenges?

When I started learning with Ridhima, who I have found to be the Best NLP Practitioner and the Best NLP coach in India, (I have worked with her exclusively through online NLP courses), I have learnt a lot of techniques that are absolutely essential for a good Coach. These are

• Intention
• Rapport
• Calibration
• Various NLP processes like Perceptual Positions, Visual Squash, Anchoring etc.
• Melatonin Language

And I have seen my challenges with clients sort themselves out.

One of the best things I have experienced with Ridhima is that she pushes you for self-discovery and self-application. Just like a great Swimming Coach, who doesn't waste time on theory of swimming, but rather encourages you to go into the water and splash about, and jumps in with a life-guarding buoy to save you and help you correct your technique. 

I suggest the best way to deal with the issues faced by New Coach is attend one of her Live Sessions and experience it for yourself. 

Find out more when you write to her at [email protected]