The following is taken from David’s interview with Marcia Reynolds in 10 Super Coaches.
How would you suggest coaches find their niche?
Look at ALL your past experiences in industries, professions and fields, including volunteer work, to identify areas you know. Then look for topics that would interest clients in these areas that you are passionate about. To become an expert in an area, you have to be passionate about it. Do not go with something just because you think people need it. You have to have a strong desire to research, learn and develop yourself in order to create and maintain your expertise status.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Marcia Reynolds in 10 Super Coaches.
What are your coaching niche(s)? How did you discover this?
Technical corporations. It is important to build your practice on your past experiences, at least at first. Many of my clients are engineers, scientists and researchers since I speak their language (I spent 11 years working for technical organizations).
Emotional intelligence. It is also important to begin to define an area of expertise early on. I am passionate about researching and teaching the latest techniques in emotional intelligence. I also speak and write on the subject, which has helped me to become known as an expert in the field.
Government. I do a lot of work for local, state and national government agencies. This niche found me.
I also mentor coach new coaches, sharing my ups and downs to help them build their practices avoiding the mistakes I made.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Marcia Reynolds in 10 Super Coaches.
What method did you find most effective in getting your initial clients, and what advice would you give to coaches trying this method?
Go be visible, whatever this takes. Tell people what you are doing. Network wherever you can. Speak, write, and give seminars. The more people that know you and like you, the more the referrals will come in.
Also, get your own coach immediately, even if funds are low. Your coach will get you up and running quicker than if you try to do it by yourself. And your coach will help you clean up your own life so that you are more attractive to others.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Marcia Reynolds in 10 Super Coaches.
What was the most interesting or exciting thing for you about building your practice?
Learning to trust that the flow and speed of building my business is perfect. Even when I had cancellations, if I didn’t get scared and just accepted that the cancellation was making room for something better, I found that my business developed in the form and at the speed that was best for me. And the more I focused on learning and practicing, the quicker my business grew.
Also, I gave up on the idea of having a business plan. I offer corporate seminars and public speaking services as well as coaching. When business goes down in one area, it often picks up in one of the other two. Therefore, I always have work. I’m never sure what the balance will look like at the beginning of the year. I just go with the people and opportunities that appear and my success has grown every year.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Marcia Reynolds in 10 Super Coaches.
What top three methods, in order, did you use to get your clients in the first 2 years?
Public speaking: I worked hard to develop my skills and this part of my business so I would be hired as a keynot speaker for big conferences. This helps me to attract many possible clients at once. I have worked with speaking coaches, attended acting workshops, joined the National Speakers Association (where I get to see great speakers and learn marketing techniques) and began speaking everywhere I could to practice. I now coach people in public speaking as I think it is vital to success in most businesses.
Writing: I write articles, audio programs and books. People read or hear my ideas and contact me. Some of my products are in bookstores. Others are self-published. I sell them on the Internet and at my seminars and speeches. I give books away to potential clients…this works better than a brochure. My book is only 60 pages…a quick read that teaches as well as tells people about my outlook on personal and professional development.
Publicity: I learned how to attract reporters through emails pitches and press releases. This is how I received my first client that was not a referral from a friend.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Marcia Reynolds in 10 Super Coaches.
Would you advice coaches to pursue certification?
Absolutely!! Certification is what distinguishes you from anyone who just calls themselves a coach with no training or experience. We have to uphold certification to keep our profession strong. It is important to join the International Coach Federation and become certified to help keep the integrity of our profession strong in the eyes of our customers.
The International Coach Federation is the only non-profit professional association that is recognized world-wide as credible and sound. It is not aligned with one school, so it is also seen by regulating organizations as a credibile representative of all coaches, regardless of their schooling and background.
