How To Be an Extraordinary Coach?

For the past months, I have had the pleasure of conversing with multiple dozens of coaches from all over the world through the Extraordinary Coaches Podcast. The idea for the podcast came to fruition after I realized I wanted to surround myself with extraordinary people, learn from them, feel inspired and motivated, and provide that same gift for others by sharing these powerful conversations with the world. On this search to become a better coach, there was one question that consistently came up in almost every single conversation. The question being: What makes someone an Extraordinary Coach? In this article, I'm answering that question with the help of 24 extraordinary coaches.

Mick Rutjes : "What is, in your opinion, an Extraordinary Coach?"

Charlie Panayi : "I don't think you need to be a coach in order to be an extraordinary coach. The most influential person in my life wasn't a coach, he was a leader."

Nicholas Dato : "An extraordinary coach is someone who is able to help people in areas that they have helped themselves in."

Linda Tilson : "An extraordinary coach is somebody who meets me where I am at, listens compassionately to what I express, and they allow me to voice whatever is, without judgement. But, they don't let you hang out in the negative space too long. They will nudge you and challenge you in ways that might feel uncomfortable."

Koen Blom : "An extraordinary coach is someone who is able to reflect exactly what the other person needs. They are able to give the other person the exact lesson they need at that moment in their life."

Andy Nelson, PCC, PMP : "An extraordinary coach coaches extraordinary people."

Martine Posthuma : "Extraordinary coaching is about being so honest with the other person and knowing how to tap into the divine timing of the session; being able to give someone exactly what they need at the exact moment - finding the flow."

Rebecca Schocker : "Being able to hear the words behind the words. You hear what's not being said and pick up on it. This comes down to self awareness. An extraordinary coach has a high level of self awareness and emotional intelligence."

An?e Kos : "We are all unique. You bring a set of skills, knowledge, and experience that no one else has in the world. You are the only you in the world, there is no one else like you. Use that uniqueness and share it with the world."

Albert Jansen : "An extraordinary coach is somebody who listens to people and can pull himself out of the conversation. When the client thinks 'what a wonderful coach', you're a good coach. But when the client thinks 'I'm doing great', you're an extraordinary coach."

Annick Verboven : "An extraordinary coach is a really pure person who can make you feel wonderful, alive, and gives you energy, by asking good questions, making you think, showing you your self-doubt, and reflecting your inner world back to you. When you have a combination of that, you are a great coach."

??Thomas Korpel?? : "An extraordinary coach is someone who can express their vulnerability, doesn't put himself or herself on a pedestal, and doesn't have any hidden agendas or a big need to help others - the rescuing syndrome."

Rich Carter : "You have to be a good listener to know what to coach on and how to coach. You have to be a listener, as well as a server. An extraordinary coach knows who he is being."

Myles Downey : "An extraordinary coach is somebody that does not get confused by all the other things that could be happening and allows you to express yourself in the game you are playing. When I say expressing yourself I mean digging into your genius, your potential. For me, the word genius speaks about the embodiment of your potential. I am trying to make potential real and practical. An extraordinary coach will help you understand that you can not just focus on your potential - which is fantastic and amazing - but actually puts some clothes on the potential and makes it real. That's what genius is, and an extraordinary coach will not let you waver from that."

Lauren Boonzaier : "Somebody who has really mastered the art of balance. It's about finding the balance of any interacting with somebody, finding the balance between allowing someone to come to their own conclusion and giving them advice. It's about knowing when to listen and knowing when to talk. It's really about assessing the situation you're in and adapting to it."

Stephanie Casaubon, PCC : "An extraordinary coach is someone who holds their client accountable to what they say they want their life to look like. And who shows up prepared to ruffle feathers in order for the client to get exactly what they want."

Noémie Muret : "Self love."

Mandy Lyttle : "Labels on labels on labels... That's how we create everything. An extraordinary coach, if I had to use the label, would be someone who is willing to see their client as as much of a mirror for themselves as they are for their client. Each session can grow you as much as the other person if you allow it to."

Nik Huno : "Courageously lived human experience."

Sam R. : "An extraordinary coach is someone who always says what they feel like they want to say, no matter how the other person may react to it. An extraordinary coach does what they preach."

Rob Ogle : "An extraordinary coach takes no credit, they know it's all about the individual."

Rob Gibbons : "An extraordinary coach is someone who can bring the best version of their client to the conscious level, and gives them the ability to continuously do that for themselves."

George Lantay : "Extraordinary is beyond the ordinary - taking people to a certain level beyond the ordinary. Extraordinary coaches are in super deep alignment to the truth. It's not just taking people towards a place they've never gone before but taking people towards 'the truth'. Extraordinary coaches create the best world possible together."

Angelo Melchiorre : "An extraordinary coach leads with their heart. They really hear and see their client for who they truly are. They help bring out the best in their client - and the best in their client is who they are truly meant to be."

Mick Rutjes : "An extraordinary coach is he who answers this question for themselves, thinks for a moment, then smiles and says 'That's me.'"

Thank you every single one of you wonderful, and truly extraordinary coaches for having these beautiful conversations with me. It is truly a blessing.