Anne Bloom Of The Osborne Group: Five Things You Need To Create a Highly Successful Career As a Life or Business Coach

The coaching industry is now tremendous. It is a 15 billion dollar industry. Many professionals have left their office jobs to become highly successful coaches. At the same time, not everyone who starts a coaching business sees success. What does someone starting a career as a life coach, wellness coach, or business coach need to know to turn it into a very successful and rewarding career?

In this interview series, called “Five Things You Need To Create a Highly Successful Career As a Life or Business Coach” we are interviewing experienced and successful life coaches, wellness coaches, fitness coaches, business and executive coaches and other forms of coaches who share the strategies you need to create a successful career as a life or business coach.

In this particular interview, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Anne Bloom.

Anne has worked as a consultant and coach for sixteen years. Prior to that Anne was and continues to provide Human Resources and Operational expertise to clients. Anne has coached both life skills and business enhancement skills to leaders and employees who want to grow both personally and professionally and learn more about themselves as people and as employees.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and what brought you to this particular career path?

Istarted in human resources as a fluke. I was working at a chartered accountancy firm and was asked to help with talent acquisition and onboarding. The rest as they say is history. I’ve now worked for over 30 years providing human resources and operation services helping company leaders understand what they can do to hone their leadership skills and help their employees. I work closely with leaders and employees providing insights to starting a new journey, to facilitate change and to ensure that minds are open to new possibilities. Coaching is about working towards potentials and eventualities. I love working with clients who have those “aha” moments through a question asked or a thought. When that happens the epiphany of possibilities is exciting. I also love working with change. — change in thought, process and especially behaviour. It is all so exciting.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

• Leadership. Successful people are typically strong leaders. Many people have leadership characteristics, but it’s how they use them that counts. I always made sure that I asked questions, took chances, and made the most of each situation. There was a time when I was asked to coach a leader who believed that he knew it all, had no need for growth and that he was the perfect picture of what a leader should be. Over coffee outside of the office, I asked him one question — What does being a perfect leader mean to you? His answer was wishy washy, full of uncertainty and full of the “me” factor. That allowed for us to start a more in-depth conversation about what makes a true leader — integrity, development of others, listening, empathy, etc. After time, where self-reflection was needed — the change in thought and leadership was evident. As a coach I feel the need for people to open up, to be honest, to look inside as to what makes them tick. Sometimes, answering difficult questions is what is needed. Other times, intuition kicks in and people just know.
• Self-confidence is another trait successful people need. It is evidenced as trust in their abilities, qualities, and judgment. This does not mean being egotistical, but rather owning who we are and what makes us successful. How would you define success for yourself? My definition is when I achieve a goal that I have set for myself. I break the bigger goal into smaller more manageable goals and review the necessary steps I took to achieve each goal.
• Another trait that contributes to success is aspiration. I was told many years ago that if you don’t see yourself in the role you aspire to why would anyone else. You/We need to OWN what and how we do our job. Our aspiration is everything. The goals we develop, the results we work towards are all part of our aspirations. Recognizing our worth and value add is so important to achieving success.

These are the top three characteristics that have worked for me. But they weren’t the only ones. Some of the other characteristics that made me successful are:

• Drive
• Patience
• Discipline
• Communication
• Integrity

How have habits played a role in your success? Can you share some success habits that have helped you in your journey?

There are several habits that have played a role in my success over the years:

• Setting goals: I always set clear, specific, and measurable goals. My vision of what I aspire to has always been through a clearly outlined set of goals.
• Self-discipline: I am often surprised at the self-discipline I have been able to apply to stay focused on my goals; I consistently take action, even when faced with challenges or distractions. I prioritize my tasks and follow through.
• Continuous learning: I need to be learning something new all the time. That thirst for knowledge has helped me be committed to lifelong learning, whether its online courses, webinars, in class or Zoom courses. I read books, attend seminars and conferences, and seek new experiences to expand my skills, capabilities and knowledge.
• Time management: I consistently keep a record of everything I need to accomplish. I try to eliminate time-wasting activity but somehow it always creeps into my day. I have been working from home for the past 16 years and find that I am far more productive at home that I thought I would be. I get my people time on Zoom or Teams and maximize my time to ensure high productivity.
• Persistence and resilience: Success often requires overcoming obstacles and setbacks. I have a resilient mindset and am persistent in the face of failure. I learn from my mistakes, adapt to challenges, and keep moving forward.
• Networking: I love, love networking. Meeting people, sharing ideas, knowledge, information and just getting to know others is so important to my growth. Over the years, I have built a strong network. I make sure to have virtual or in person meetings with people I haven’t seen over the last three years because Covid shut the world down. Even during Covid, I made sure to keep in touch with my network by phone, Zoom or Teams. Successful individuals actively seek out and cultivate connections with others. I engage in networking events, participate in professional organizations, and maintain strong relationships with mentors, colleagues, and peers.
• Health and well-being: The last three years I have been focussed on my own mental health and well-being. Not being able to meet with friends or family took a toll on me and them. Taking care of my physical and mental health is crucial for long-term success. I am actively working to find ways to reduce my levels of stress and promote my own well-being by prioritizing exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep.
• Positive mindset: Maintaining a positive attitude and mindset can greatly impact success. Successful individuals focus on possibilities, believe in their abilities, and maintain a resilient and optimistic outlook, even during challenging times.
• Embracing failure and taking risks: I look at failure as a steppingstone to success. There is no “try” there is only “do”. I take calculated risks, step outside my comfort zone, and always learn from my failures. I view setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Accountability: I am accountable to me, my family, my colleagues and my friends for my actions and outcomes. I will not make excuses and I also hold others accountable for their mistakes. We all need to learn from mistakes, make necessary adjustments, and take proactive steps towards achieving goals.

Success can mean different things to different people, and these habits may vary based on individual goals and aspirations.

This will be intuitive to you but it will be helpful to spell this out directly. Can you help explain a few reasons why it is so important to create good habits? Can you share a story or give some examples?

I read somewhere many years ago that people can form a habit in as short as 21 days. Doing the same thing each day over a short period of time is habit-forming. Depending on the complexity of the habit would depend on the length of time it would take to become a habit — 21 days to three months.

Developing habits is important for several reasons:

• They help us automate certain actions and behaviors, making them more efficient and consistent. When we turn a behavior into a habit, we no longer need to consciously think about it or make decisions about it. This frees up mental energy and allows us to focus on other tasks or goals.
• They provide structure and discipline that help us work towards our goals. Engaging in positive habits, can help us make progress and achieve desired outcomes. For example, if a goal is to become healthier, developing habits like regular exercise and healthy eating will greatly increase your chances of success. In business, developing a goal that will help you be a better leader takes discipline and consistency to see the benefits and success of that new habit, whether it’s empathy, listening, or accountability.
• They can be a powerful tool for personal growth and development. When we cultivate positive habits, such as reading regularly or practicing a skill, we are continuously learning and expanding our knowledge and abilities. Over time, these habits contribute to our personal growth and help us become the best version of ourselves. Exercising is a habit that can be formed within a short period of time and its benefits increase the more you keep at it.
• Improving time management skills creates structure and routine in our daily lives. When certain actions become habits, we can complete them more efficiently, save time and reduce decision fatigue. This allows us to focus on the more important tasks or activities.
• Habits can reinforce positive behaviors and help overcome negative ones. By consistently engaging in a desired behavior, we strengthen neural pathways associated with that behavior, making it easier to repeat in the future. On the other hand, by replacing negative habits with positive ones, we can gradually eliminate undesirable behaviors.
• Habits can have a significant impact on our mental and emotional well-being. Positive habits, such as practicing mindfulness or expressing gratitude, can help reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and promote a positive mindset. By incorporating these habits into our daily lives, we can enhance our overall well-being.

Developing good habits is important because they provide efficiency, consistency, help us achieve goals, promote personal growth, improve time management, reinforce positive behaviors, and contribute to our mental and emotional well-being. By consciously cultivating beneficial habits, we can create a foundation for success and fulfillment in both our personal and professional lives.

Speaking in general, what is the best way to develop good habits? Conversely, how can one stop bad habits?

Developing good habits requires consistency, discipline, and a systematic approach. Here are some effective strategies that help develop good habits:

• Start small: Focus on one or a few specific habits at a time. Trying to overhaul your entire lifestyle/routine overnight can be overwhelming and difficult to sustain. Start with manageable habits that align with your goals and gradually build upon them.
• Set clear and specific goals: Define your goals with clarity. Make sure they are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely (SMART goals). Clearly articulate what you want to achieve with the habit and why it is important to you. This clarity will provide motivation and direction. Break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable goals.
• Create a routine and schedule: Establish a consistent routine and schedule for practicing the habit. Consistency is key. Choose a specific time and place to engage in the habit and make it a non-negotiable part of your daily or weekly schedule.
• Use habit stacking: Habit stacking involves attaching the new habit to an existing one. Identify a current habit that you practice consistently and naturally, then link the new habit to it. For example, if you want to develop a habit of reading every day, you can stack it onto a habit of drinking your morning tea or coffee.
• Use visual reminders: Place visual cues or reminders in your environment to prompt you to engage in the desired habit. For example, if you want to drink more water, leave a water bottle on your desk, or set a reminder on your phone. Visual cues serve as triggers and help reinforce the habit.
• Track progress: Keep a record of your habit practice to monitor progress and stay motivated. Use a habit tracker, journal, or an app to mark off each instance of successfully practicing the habit. Seeing a record of your progress can provide a sense of accomplishment and inspire you to keep going.
• Stay accountable: Share your habit goals with someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or colleague. Regularly update them on your progress and seek their support and encouragement. Alternatively, join a group or find a partner who shares similar goals.
• Practice self-reflection and evaluation: Regularly reflect on your habit development journey. Evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies, identify any challenges or obstacles, and adjust your approach accordingly. Learn from both successes and setbacks to refine your habits over time.
• Celebrate milestones and reward yourself: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements along the way. When you reach significant milestones, or consistently practice the habit for a certain period, reward yourself with something meaningful or enjoyable. Celebrating milestones provides positive reinforcement.
• Stay committed and be patient: Developing good habits takes time and effort. Stay committed to your goals and be patient with yourself. Understand that building habits is a gradual process, and setbacks are normal. Persevere through challenges and keep focusing on the long-term benefits.

Consistency is crucial when developing good habits. With dedication, perseverance, and the right strategies, we can integrate positive behaviors into your daily life and experience lasting positive change.

Stopping bad habits can be challenging, but with determination and the right approach, it is possible to break free from them. Here are some strategies that help to stop bad habits:

• Start by identifying the specific habit you want to stop. Reflect on why you engage in it and the negative impact it has on your life. Understanding the triggers, routines, and rewards associated with the habit can provide insights into how to address it effectively.
• Define your goals for quitting the bad habit. Make them specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely (SMART). Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve will give you a sense of purpose and motivation.
• It can be challenging to simply eliminate a habit without replacing it with something else. Identify a positive behavior or habit that can serve as a substitute for the bad habit. For example, if you’re trying to quit smoking, you might replace the habit of reaching for a cigarette with chewing gum or engaging in deep breathing exercises.
• Modify your environment to minimize the triggers that lead to the bad habit. Rearrange your physical space, remove cues associated with the habit, or avoid situations that tempt you to engage in the unwanted behavior. Creating a supportive environment can make it easier to resist the urge to fall back into the habit.
• Develop mindfulness and self-awareness to recognize the moments when you are tempted to engage in the bad habit. Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, can help you pause and become aware of your thoughts, emotions, and urges. This gives you the opportunity to make a conscious choice to avoid the habit.
• Share your goal with supportive friends, family members, colleagues, or a support group. Their encouragement and accountability can be invaluable in your journey to break free from a negative habit., If the habit is deeply ingrained or if you need extra guidance and support consider seeking professional help, such as therapy or counseling.
• Breaking a habit takes time and effort. It’s important to be patient and not get discouraged by setbacks. If you slip up and engage in the bad habit, view it as a learning opportunity and recommit to your goal. Stay persistent, keep practicing the positive alternatives, and celebrate your progress along the way.

Everyone’s journey to breaking a bad habit is unique, and it may take time to fully overcome it. Stay committed, be kind to yourself, and focus on the positive changes you’re making.

Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?

It’s amazing how uncommon common sense really is.

This statement resonates with me because what I think may be common sense may not be common sense to another person. We all think differently about what is important and in how we arrive at a decision. We need to recognize the differences in people and give them opportunities to show their differences. We need to continue to learn from others regardless of whether we agree with them. We can’t always be right. But we can always listen, have empathy and be resilient.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

I am currently working on a project with a client where I am coaching their Tier 2 leaders in creating personal and business development plans. The lessons learned about who we are as leaders is so important as it guides the growth of oneself, one’s colleagues, one’s clients’ and the overall business. Creating development plans provides opportunities for self-reflection, and open, transparent discussions with other leaders and colleagues. It’s important to share not only the what but also the how you will achieve your goals and in what timeframe. Working together for the common purposes of growth, leadership, and self-awareness promotes capabilities.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Many coaches are successful, but some are not very successful. From your experience or perspective, what are the main factors that distinguish successful coaches from unsuccessful ones? What are your “Five Things You Need To Create a Highly Successful Career As a Life or Business Coach”?

• Asking the right questions. A coach needs to ask probing questions and not always accept what is said. We need to hear what is not being said and ask uncomfortable questions to help discover answers. Take people out of their comfort zone and ask them to really think about the issue that may be causing concern.
• Recognizing what’s going well and what’s not. Coaching well requires a balance of criticism and praise. If coaching conversations are completely focused on what’s not working and what the employee must change, that’s not motivating, it’s demoralizing. Conversely, coaching shouldn’t focus on only what’s working well. There needs to be a balance of both the good and not so good to provide clarity, thoughtfulness and self-awareness.
• Listening and empowering. Coaches need to listen more than speak . Ask the question, wait for the answer. Don’t interject — let the person find their own right answer. A coach’s role is not to provide the answers but to ask questions that will help determine the answers.
• Understanding their perspective. A coach’s role is not to tell but to ask. A coach needs to fully understand what is being said and not to judge a person’s perspective. A coach needs to accept and guide to the right outcome.
• Being comfortable with failure. Not all coaching sessions have an outcome that we as coaches consider to be the right outcome. That doesn’t necessarily spell failure, but it may lead to other scenarios. Keep in mind, that not all relationships hit it off. I may not be the right coach for you and vice versa. Sometimes it’s best to interview a coach to see if there is a relationship that can stimulate growth, change and transparency.

What are the most common mistakes you have seen coaches make when they start their business? What can be done to avoid those errors?

• Talking too much. Stop talking and listen. Giving too much advice. It’s sometimes hard to not give advice, but the simple rule is don’t offer advice unless you are asked for it. If asked for advice, I turn it around by asking a probing question to help the person discover their own answer. They usually know what is best for them but just need some guidance to articulate it.
• Doggedly following a coaching system. Following a coaching guidebook will never provide all the answers. Flexibility and listening are key to success. I liken this to some doctors who don’t really listen, but only read the textbook that tells them the diagnosis. The book doesn’t know the person, all symptoms are not of the same illness so jumping to conclusions doesn’t help. Be open, listen and build rapport.
• Neglecting to ask the other person how you can be most helpful. This is an important way to start any coaching session. How can I help you? What situation are you hoping to resolve? Start of by building rapport with the person being coached. Listen, probe, ask questions, learn, and then ask more questions. Ask don’t tell.
• Assuming what the other person needs to be fixed. Coaches are not doctors or psychologists. We don’t fix anyone or any situation. We guide people to finding the right answers for themselves.
• Owning the outcome. The coach doesn’t have to live with the outcome of the session. Our role is to ensure the outcome matches the desired result discussed in the first session. Did the person achieve the outcome they hoped for? Do they better understand and accept the outcome? These are final questions to determine success.
• Winging it. There is no winging it in coaching. Understanding what the end state should be will ensure success in the coaching relationship.

Based on your experience and success, what are a few of the most important things a coach should know in order to create a Wow! Customer Experience?

Question to be sure both parties are aware of:

• What they are doing (the technical detail)
• How it relates to what they want to do. (the tactical detail)
• What the effect of their actions will be
• Observe and analyze critically — be open, honest, transparent. Ask probing questions to better understand issues or comments.
• Provide high quality positive and constructive feedback. A square peg doesn’t fit in a round hole. Not all answers are the right answer for the situation. Listen to understand and reply. Don’t pass judgement but provide insights that encourage self-awareness and growth.
• Work on your questioning skills to encourage learning. Rather than tell your employees what to do (coach-centered coaching style), use effective questioning skills to encourage them to reflect on their performance (player-centered coaching style).
• Reward effort as well as achievement. Effort is a means to learning and improvement. Celebrate all success. Thank you and well done goes a long way to motivation and encouragement to continue the hard work to find solutions.

Lead generation is one of the most important aspects of any business, and particularly in coaching. What are the best ways for a coach to find customers? Can you share some of the strategies you use to generate good, qualified leads?

The number one way to find leads is to network. Talk to people, share knowledge and ideas. People won’t introduce you to others until they know who you are, understand the services you provide, read your blogs, understand your thought process. Previous clients and colleagues are always a great place as well. Your reputation speaks for itself. Say what you mean, follow through on promises and be upfront. This is the best way to generate good, qualified leads. Even though we all lead busy lives, it’s important to meet people for coffee or lunch, continue to have virtual meetings and share why you coach and the successes you have achieved.

Coaches are similar to startup founders who often work extremely long hours and it’s easy to end up burning the candle at both ends. What would you recommend to your fellow coaches about how to best take care of their physical and mental wellness when starting their business?

Building a business takes time. Patience is a virtue, resilience is key. We shouldn’t expect instant results and success on the first coaching session. Being an effective coach means you need to have gone through the coaching process yourself to understand what, how and why coaching works or why it doesn’t. Understand the process, learn who you are, what makes you tick and what your own likes and dislikes are. You need to take care of yourself before you can help others. Listen and learn from advice. Having a supportive group is extremely helpful when starting and building a business.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I would create a movement that promotes acceptance, understanding, health and safety, and security. Coming out of Covid, people are still struggling with return to office, being with others, feeling safe and secure in the environment. Well-being and security are key. There is a rise in violence and in antisemitism in the world. It needs to stop. Governments exist to create a world that is safe, secure and most importantly a world that future generations will be proud of. We should come together and make this world a better place. There will be future pandemics, but we need to learn the lessons from the last three years and ensure we are ready for what come’s next.

We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

I would love to have a sit down with our Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. I had the privilege many years ago of meeting his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. He was gracious, friendly and a true statesman. I would love to speak to and share ideas with Justin to learn what he is doing or feels needs to be done to make Canada a greater influence on the world stage.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Anne Bloom is a Principal with The Osborne Group — a dedicated group of executive consultants working in all facets of business. Anne can be reached on LinkedIn or at [email protected].

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!