How do you learn from other successful career development coaches and their personal brands?

One's role models should demonstrate the highest level of expertise in successful career coaching in various aspects of the job search. These role models don't have to master all aspects; some might be knowledgeable in wellness, others in resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and others in interviewing techniques, etc. Most important is how they gain the trust of their clients.

In my experience, the best coaches are the ones who have a coach themselves and are continually learning about trends in career development. Usually, their results speak for themselves in their client reviews and LI Recommendations.

Start by researching and identifying career development coaches who have achieved significant success and recognition in the field. Look for coaches who have a strong personal brand, a substantial following, and a track record of helping clients achieve their career goals. While it's important to learn from successful coaches, it's equally crucial to adapt their strategies and approaches to fit your unique style and expertise. Avoid simply copying their methods; instead, integrate their insights into your own practice in a way that aligns with your values and resonates with your target audience.

More important than how they disseminate their expertise is how they reach their clients in one-on-one settings or group environments. I take pride in developing relationships with my career center clients, as well as leading webinars that consistently garner high ratings. Sure, being able to demonstrate knowledge through social media, but not as important as the individuals they touch in a personal manner.

Yes I totally agree and wouldn’t emphasize enough to stay aligned and not get lost to try to copy your models. It is good to be inspired but it is important to adapt their methods, ways of doing with what you like, your qualities, talents, competences,… otherwise you have the risk to be disgusted, discouraged and it can impact on your selfestime if you don’t get the results you expect, exhausting yourself of doing something that is not a good fit for you… e.g. I do not like and feel no motivation to speak alone in front of a camera in a teaching mode but I recently experienced the interview mode, and loved interacting and building upon what it is said or answering to questions with my expertise. Find your way to do the unavoidable tasks. ..

An example of adapting an idea from one of my career-coach colleagues, with affirmation, is using a resume writing acronym in one of my webinars. I don't have to use only my original thoughts in what I teach and impart. That would limit my scope of teaching. By leveraging what my colleagues offer, I have become a stronger career coach.

Genuinely appreciate other people's work and openly praise them when they do something right. Ask to learn. All of these do not take away any credibility from you.

Learning from role models can come in various forms and sources. For example, I learn from my role models through social media and talking with them via Zoom or in person. I also value speaking to other career coaches, academics, and the people who do the hiring. None are more valuable than others; they all add value to my learning. Lastly, accepting that you are not "the smartest person in the room" allows you to learn. Thinking that you know it all, prevents learning. This realization is, perhaps, your best learning tool.