How do you become an executive coach?

Based on my experience as an executive coach a very critical aspect is the ability of the coach to be self-reflective and aware of their own biases and limitations. It's crucial for a coach to regularly engage in self-reflection, recognizing how their personal experiences, beliefs, and values might influence their coaching practice. This self-awareness ensures they remain objective and focused on the client's needs and goals, rather than allowing personal biases to shape the coaching relationship and advice given.

Key to become an Executive coach, you need to be a Coach first. Coaching is very different than mentoring, training, consulting, etc. One need to understand the difference and play Coach role with coaching mindset.

Many years ago, I was astonished to see how many people would call themselves a coach or executive coach. Not so much based on their skills but more because of their experience in specific functions or life experiences. Coaching is all about the ability to listen, not only what is being said but also what is not said and how this resonates. The moment you start spitting advice, opinions, or perspectives, you become a mentor. So ask yourself, why do I want to be a coach? To honestly give the coachee the space to go through its process instead of steering toward a desired outcome.

Having working in HR for 24 years in senior leadership position and now running my own business - I invested in my professional development as an Executive Coach by completing the ILM 7 in Executive and Senior Level coaching. This qualification stands as a gold standard in our unregulated industry, ensuring that I bring a robust foundation of skills and knowledge to my coaching practice. This is alongside being a member of both the AoC and EMCC, upholding the Global Code of Ethics, reinforcing my commitment to providing the highest standards of service alongside participating in coaching supervision as a means of continuous improvement.

My journey into coaching started out of frustration with the overall state of leadership today. I invested in leadership courses and joined a mastermind with seasoned coaches. I was challenged and for a while I felt like an imposter. But the biggest growth came from actively coaching a diverse range of clients. My advice on how to become an executive coach: - Know your "Why". - Get educated. - Get immersed in the coaching environment. - Challenge yourself to coach a wide variety of people

Certification is excellent not only to show that you adhere to specific standards but also that you are comfortable with what is perceived as high-quality coaching. I have followed a three-year program at the Vrije Universiteit, executive coaching and team coaching, leading to the title of Master Executive Coach. The reason for me was to gain knowledge and experience from science and research to understand coaching first. Since then, it has been possible to keep your practice at level with a permanent education program and supervision. I never went for the qualifications. Whatever you do, coaching is a craft that needs maintenance and permanent education.

As the market becomes more saturated with coaches and "coaches" it is essential to distinguish between the latter, those who've bestowed upon themselves the title of coach simply because they can, given the industry is still unregulated, and those who not only have the business experience/acumen and aptitude but also have invested in rigorous training, mentoring, supervision, personal coaching and continuous development. Certification, from reputable institutions, is one way to help clients separate the wheat from the chaff.

Acquiring coaching certifications from reputable institutions is essential. Certification not only enhances your skills but also demonstrates your commitment to ethical standards, instilling trust in potential clients and employers. Invest in recognized programs to build a robust framework for your coaching practice. In Coaching, International Coach Federation (ICF) certification is considered the gold standard. EMCC, MG and AC are also good international certifications. Your level of certification defines the level of training you have gone through and creates the credibility of your profile as a coach.

While there is no legal need to be certified, it can provide you with framework on what coaching is and what isn`t. You can also do apprenticeships with coaches that you find credible and knowledgeable in the field. Supervision you would get during your certification or apprenticeship is extremely valuable when it comes to providing you with tangible feedback on your coaching style, dos and don`ts and helping you find your own voice.

Efectivamente, certificación como coach puede darte credibilidad ante terceros y autoconfianza. Sin embargo, en la mayoría de los casos está sobrevalorado. Estar certificado no es garantía de nada. Es mucho más importante valorar la experiencia del coach en procesos anteriores, mundo empresarial y conocimiento de las habilidades necesarias, que si realmente ha obtenido algún “título” al respecto.

Specializing in a niche is the golden ticket and financial powerhouse for a thriving coaching business. Based on my experience, your chosen niche should align with your passion and profound expertise. Drawing from personal life experiences in that domain adds valuable insights, enabling you to adeptly assist executives facing similar challenges. Your comprehensive understanding equips you to pose impactful coaching questions, fostering optimal outcomes and driving the desired transformation in your executive clients.

In my honest opinion, a Coach is not supposed to be versatile, however should carefully choose a specific area that can support in the program. It is important to choose the sector along with the area, for example - choosing technology companies and to stay focused on business strategy or growth. Being niche gives clarity to the Coach and the person being coached. There will be a clear path as to what one can expect through the program. Ambiguity just kills the program after 2/3 sessions. Hence, I truly recommend being specific, simple and clear in one's approach

(Te lo digo de forma super simple) "Si no eres diferente, eres barato" Dicho de otra forma, si eres de esos coaches ejecutivos que puedes hacer cualquier trabajo, que tienen su perfil de LinkedIn con muchas áreas del conocimiento diferentes, que te pueden poner en cualquier parte, entonces eres uno más de la mayoría. El valor del nicho, es encontrar donde eres espectacular, donde vibras y donde nadie puede competir contigo porque es parte de ti. Enfócate en el nicho donde están tus fortalezas y ofrece eso. Hacia afuera nicho. En el 1:1 o en privado puedes ir un poco más amplio. Suerte! Recuerda "Se diferente"

I approach coaching by focusing on supporting career moms who feel overwhelmed with their professional and personal responsibilities. My experience as a mother and CEO has equipped me with unique insights into the challenges faced by working mothers. I offer coaching programs that are designed to help ambitious women trust their intuition, feel empowered, and achieve harmony in their lives. My methods are rooted in my own transformation and extensive training, and I am a certified facilitator of the Fair Play Method, which emphasizes equity at home as a foundation for women's equality at work.

Finding a niche can help you differentiate but when starting out don't niche too early. Many people don't know what they would like to focus on - so experiment, play and explore. Maybe you'll find that areas you thought you would like to focus on aren't areas you enjoy coaching. Or maybe you find that areas you thought might be boring are more rewarding than you thought.

It's easier to transition into executive coaching if you already have a strong network, especially in your chosen niche. If people already know and trust you, and can imagine you as a good coach, then you're halfway there already. I got my launch client from my network and I've since built a very busy coaching practice almost entirely from networking and referrals. Building a strong professional network with other coaches can also help as very often you get assignments that need more than one coach or that aren't a good fit for you, but someone else you know is better suited to. What goes around comes around.

Construir uma rede de relacionamento forte, além de potencializar sua carreira, vai te permitir aprender e conviver com pessoas do nicho que você atua. Sem falar no potencial de indica??es que uma boa rede de contatos te permite receber.

Build your network is as important as getting Certified and having experience. Whenever you open up yourself to a group or individual, it may surprise you on how much you can help and learn from others. In this field you must be open to talk and listen. So begin a conversation with a coffee!

90% of my coaching business happens through referrals. And it is into the support system that I have created over the years of networking with right people. Right place, right time and absolute right networking platforms.

You will not be able to start an executive coaching business without an existing network. Forget about social media funnel strategies. They are not working, if your target clients are corporate execs. Instead strategically build on your existing network and form partnerships.

Today everything is about how you market.yourself. however great a product if it's not visible volumes don't come in. However good a movie unless a appetite is created for people to watch it, does not translate to box office numbers. Write articles, share case studies, blogs, white papers and linked in contributions is a good way to become visible

Its all about being packaged to sell. Being reachable to your audience. Through right networking, social media marketing, and always being upbeat and proactive at networking and reaching you to people.

As an executive coach, marketing is synonymous with sharing your expertise and helping others. Create a content calendar for a relevant social media platform, such as LinkedIn. Regularly post content that helps professionals solve problems and/or think differently about leadership. Share your knowledge, advice, and insight on a regular basis. Over time, people in your network will see you as a subject matter expert and will seek you out. Remember that likes and shares on LinkedIn don't always tell you the complete story. Some people will see your content and not engage with it. However, they may bring it up in an exploratory call with you. Consider the your ideal client and the challenges they may be struggling with. Write about that.

There's already been a lot of valuable/useful thoughts on marketing yourself, so perhaps how not to market/grow your coaching career; Don't sell yourself as a problem solver, that's not coaching; coachees grow when solving problems themselves. Also, most executives don't respond overly well to being told what to do. Don't expect perfection from yourself - be ok with making mistakes. Just learn from those mistakes, that's all that is required. Don't do it alone; reach out to others and ask for help. Others have been through it before and mostly will be keen to help.

At the beginning of my coaching adventure, I asked a senior coach to give me only one advice. He replied: "Remember that before being a coach, you are an entrepreneur". I totally agree with this. It doesn't matter how much you studied, you trained, you have the knowledge, the skills and the attitude. Without marketing, communication and a planning, the risk is to run afloat.

No one can be an effective executive coach if they are not keeping up with trends, have supervisions on a regular basis and having a coach themselves. It is not different than being a professional in any other field, continuous learning and upskilling oneself is non-negotiable.

Consider Further Education: Continuously invest in your professional development by pursuing advanced education or specialized certifications related to executive coaching. Explore programs that delve deeper into leadership psychology, organizational behavior, or specific coaching methodologies. Advanced education enhances your expertise, providing a more robust foundation to address diverse challenges faced by executives. Stay attuned to evolving coaching trends, theories, and practices, positioning yourself as a well-informed and adaptable executive coach. This commitment to ongoing education not only deepens your knowledge but also demonstrates a dedication to offering the highest quality coaching services to your clients.

Coaching begins with self. The idea is to be part of the 'All you can learn' team and gather knowledge through books, blogs, connections, network, mentors and business clients or partners. A coach needs to have an open mind to learn in every meeting. Biggest learning for me personally has been shifting from speaking to listening. This one takes the cake!

Coaching is a practicing art and requires continual professional development, more so because it is an emerging discipline with newer researches, interpretations, techniques, complexities etc. coming up each passing day. Mentor coaching could be utilized to focus on improving competencies whereas supervision could be utilized to think about complexities not necessarily with an objective to resolve them, but increase awareness about them.

Continuous learning benefits both you and your clients. It helps you bring relevant and timely questions, ideas, and perspectives to your coaching session and keeps your perspective and suggestions fresh. Also, through learning you can collect articles, Ted Talks, and other resources that may be of value to your clients. I often send clients this sort of information after our sessions if I have something relevant to a topic we discussed. This type of follow-up is always appreciated.

Embarking on the executive coaching path involves key steps. Start with rigorous training to hone core coaching skills, ensuring you're equipped to guide with insight and empathy. Transparently share your coaching aspirations with your network, inviting them to engage with your services. Leverage your immediate circle of colleagues, offering your coaching to them as a starting point. Equip yourself with essential tools for seamless operations - from scheduling to payment and invoicing systems, laying the foundation for a professional and efficient practice. Each step is a building block towards becoming a transformative executive coach.

The most critical element to becoming an executive coach is to become valuable to others. Spend some time asking and answering the one critical question, "Why would someone hire me?" Forget about building a business, marketing, certifications, and all that for the moment. Have you established your credibility, do you have something to offer others, and can you provide executives value in moments that matter in their career? Get to the core of this question and then build from there and the odds will be stacking in your favor of becoming a great executive coach.

Learn to build a business. That's my top advice and learning. Unless you are an executive coach who is hired on salary in a company—and that is increasing, by the way—you must learn the ropes of building a business. In the long run, getting qualified, certified, and trained as a coach and becoming good at it is surprisingly the easier part here. Another truth is that even the most professional coaches may have only between 10 and maximum 20 coaching hours per week. And that's the very max. All the other time is spent on maintaining and finding clients, doing admin work, and other things to run the business themselves. Most people fail not because they are bad coaches, but because they are bad at running their own business.

Can you be a true listener and have the patience. Can you learn not to seek validation and result? Can you look out for someone else’s interests above yours? It’s the hardest three to convert once you move at least from a corporate role into coaching. Worth reflecting and considering.

Have life experience, real one from as many different areas of life as possible! Build a circle of trust around you by delivering quality work. It is also useful if you have been through psychotherapy that gives you the edge of compassion, but also edge of being able to be strict as and when it is necessary.