The following is taken from Get Paid University.
The purpose of your coaching bio is to answer the question, “Are you qualified to be my coach?” That may sound scary, but remember, you only need to be one step ahead of your clients in order to help them and in order for them to want what you have! It does not mean that you need a million academic de- grees or a thousand hours of coaching.
When you put together your bio, you might be surprised at how qualified you are. I’ve seen many coaches blossom once they put pen to paper and see for themselves how professional and accomplished they not only sound but are.
The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.
Exercise
- List the Top Ten Reasons someone should hire you. What are your strengths?
- List everything you can think of that you have done in your life – including training, experiences, insights, etc. Cross out anything that doesn’t add to your credibility or express who you are. (Suggestion: check with a fellow coach on this to make sure you are not throwing out valuable information that you are blind to.)
- Write a half page Bio. Then go through and cut it down to two to three paragraphs that really describe you well.
- Search the internet and print off three bios that sound attractive to you (yet don’t rely on hard facts you cannot replicate; e.g., a Doctorate in Psychology). Use these to inspire ideas and rework your bio.
- Have a friend who is good with words or marketing, edit it to give you a Bio that sounds great! A great sounding Bio can make an amazing difference to your confidence.
- Run your Bio past three friends or colleagues who you would like to coach and that represent your target market. Use their feedback and suggestions to further improve it.
- Put your Bio on your web site, and in a handy electronic file where you can easily find it (to insert in an e-mail, or to forward to a prospective client or audience).
The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.
Here is a list of things you might consider including in your biography:
- Your passion to help people
- The way in which you have already been helping people (e.g., unofficial coaching, mentoring, shoulder to lean on, teaching, training, managing)
- Specifically WHAT you provide for people
- Your successes (e.g., promotion, career, financially, health, relationship/marriage)
- Your adventures (e.g., climbing a mountain, travel to different countries)
- Challenges that you have overcome (e.g. divorce, a death, bankruptcy, health issue)
- Anything unique or interesting (e.g., scuba dive)
- What you love; what you hate (e.g., kids, flowery e-mail signatures, poetry)
- Your training (e.g., communication, corporate experience, people skills, self-study such as books and courses, business, any diplomas or degrees or certificates that are relevant or show you have accomplished something, or on-the-job training)
- Membership of any relevant associations e.g., National Speakers Association, International Coach Federation, Toastmasters, Chamber of Commerce, any volunteer positions on industry committees
- Any current coach training course you are undertaking.
Two to three paragraphs should suffice. Don’t include anything that does not give you credibility or a reason why you might be a good coach for them i.e., keep every word relevant. Two powerful lines are better than half a page of waffle. Oh – and of course keep it honest! For example, no saying “Gina coaches executives from major organisations” until you have at least one, or “Bill is a professional speaker” if you’re not yet. As always, you decide what is authentic and what isn’t.
