Beyond Niches & Methodologies: Differentiating Yourself as a Coach

This edition of The Business of Coaching newsletter has been authored by?Ram Gopalan, Executive Coach and Co-Founder of?Simply.Coach.?

Evolution is the way of life.?

Of course, that includes the universe and nature at large. But even with advancements in technology, our lives have become much less complicated and a lot more effortless.??

For instance, surgeons back in the day only had traditional means to conduct their practice. With technological advancements came laparoscopy and robot-assisted surgery that allowed surgeons to perform many kinds of complex procedures with much more precision, flexibility, and control than was possible with conventional methods.

These methods not only proved beneficial for patients, as they led to fewer complications, less pain & blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery... but also for the doctors, as they kept them skilled in the latest developments, and gave them opportunities to constantly upskill themselves and stand out as leaders in their field.?

Similarly, with constant research, development, and upgrades happening in the field of human advancement, the process of coaching and its impact on clients too can evolve.??

Take for instance, the brain-based approach to coaching developed by David Rock or Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) developed by Richard Bandler & John Grinder – both these approaches are strongly backed by neuroscience. They have made their place in the world of coaching with proven tools & techniques to enhance the understanding of the individual being coached, thus aiding in better and sustainable changes and results.

If you’re open to adopting such advancements into your practice and making them your own, you may have a differentiating factor on your hands that helps you stand apart and unique in your own right.?

The Current Scenario?

When we are coaching a client, we are looking for incremental changes – small, systematic steps that provoke change over time. And while the standard coaching approaches may be good enough as a foundational measure, to elevate the experience as well as the return on investment for the client there may be a need for us to experiment and branch out of our usual ways.?

And if the intent is to prepare yourself and your coaching business to stand strong in the future, differentiating yourself merely by your coaching model and niche may not be enough. As Dr Marshall Goldsmith rightfully says, “What got you here won’t get you there!” ?

At the moment, coaching at its core is mostly all about asking questions leading to a two-way conversation that enables your client to have moments of reflection and ‘Aha!’ moments that lead to possible change and transformation.??

The use of psychometric tools like MBTI and Hogan Assessment, which are not core elements of standard coaching but are add-ons, are now adding great value to coaching engagements by providing deeper insights into the client and how they function. What would be (perhaps) unearthed through the process of questions and answers now has a proven formula (in the form of these assessment tools), that can be used to gain more accurate answers in a more efficient & effective manner.??

My point is, for you and your coaching business to differentiate itself from the many other similar offerings out there, there needs to be something else that you can offer that helps you stand out: a unique cocktail of approaches, styles, tools and processes that is uniquely you. And more importantly, make an impact and change that standard coaching may not be equipped to do so.?

Other Areas of Enhancement??

The ‘different’ that you are offering doesn’t need to be something sensational or extraordinary. Let me present a couple of ideas that have made their way into coaching and are pretty simple in thought and execution:?

• Walking Coaching: Although walking coaching is a relatively recent idea, walking as a tool for clearer thinking is evidenced in history. Walking coaching doesn’t require any special equipment or a special place to walk – one can engage in coaching conversations while walking with their coach outdoors in an urban area or in a natural environment. Walking outdoors heightens the awareness of your environment and involves the use of all senses. It enables you to slow your pace down and ground yourself, which has a calming effect on your body and mind. This calming effect helps with problem solving and creative thinking.??

Walking coaching creates a strong presence; ‘doing’ nothing but walking takes one closer to the sensation of ‘being’ present – engaging both mind and body to unlock one’s potential and move towards one’s goals.?

• Coaching with Horses: Coaching with horses is a powerful coaching method that focuses on self-development and deep profound transformation. This method promotes personal change by working through the intuitive and empathic nature of horses. Coaching with horses aids in team work, leadership & communication skills, and regulating emotions. Working with horses is also known to help HSPs (Highly Sensitive People) experience their own sensitivities in a deeper way by seeing it another species – which becomes a distinct advantage.??

The above are elements that are already (and successfully) in play in the field of coaching. If you are not afraid to take a leap, you can even consider some newer aspects to venture into, for instance:??

• Coaching in the Metaverse: The advent of the metaverse is a given – and that too not far into the future. Instead of conducting a session face-to-face or over a video call, you can conduct your session over a metaverse platform.??

The metaverse can provide an immersive experience for your clients by generating the exact environment that would aid in a productive coaching session. For a relaxing environment, the coach can take the client along a walk on the beach, for instance. Or if the client wants to prepare for an upcoming important event, a simulated environment can be generated with required elements to give them a complete experience for practice and preparation. The opportunities are endless!?

• Wearable Devices to Track Data: A November 2021 study published in Frontiers Physiology found (in a 12-month, randomized, placebo-controlled experiment) that wearable devices plus coaching produced significantly better training and health outcomes compared to a wearable device and passive education. Now this was more so in the context of athletes and training, but even so, I believe the application can be similar across coaching as well.??

For instance, coaches can pre-record tips, tricks, and tutorials into wearable devices to help leaders navigate common challenges they may face on the job. Or, a health or life coach could use wellness readings from wearable devices to be able to better guide sessions and challenging situations in real time.??

Think Big. And Then Think Bigger.?

What I have provided above are mere examples that I hope act as a catalyst to coax you to colour outside the coaching box.??

Our environment after all plays a massive role in our lives and making use of it in creative ways can help elevate your coaching beyond a two-way conversation that is usually on the surface level and doesn’t go as deep & immersive as it potentially can.??

As our understanding of the human psyche improves, the way we conduct coaching for humans can also improve.

And vastly so!

So, think of how you can experiment and bring your own flavour into your coaching process – and the cascading effect it can have on your clients in terms of experience and transformation.?

Differentiation in coaching is not limited to niches, methodologies, and models. It can also happen as a result of knowing what you can bring in that is unique and also shows results. And that can only happen if you are open to exploring new ideas and experimenting – and being okay with having some ideas fail before finding ones that succeed.?

So, make exploration and experimentation your friend. This, I believe, will help you take coaching beyond the ‘standard’ into something that ‘stands out’!?

Sources: Coach Transformation Academy, Coaching with Horses, Life Coach Directory, Training Industry, Own It App??

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