You’ve heard the old adage, “Those who can’t do, teach.” (Or perhaps the coaching equivalent, “Those who can’t do, coach.”) And in some cases, that’s true. There are teachers and coaches alike who have little real-world experience and whose knowledge is only theoretical. But that’s only half the story. The best coaches are the best practitioners–people who have been there, done that when it comes to growing a business.
There’s a reason why “buyer beware” is good advice for overhyped marketing promises and get-rich-quick schemes. If some of these so-called “thought leaders” spent as much time doing the work as they do bragging, they wouldn’t have time to brag at all! But that doesn’t mean there aren’t highly skilled coaches and teachers who are passionate about imparting their knowledge.
I’m a huge advocate of every coach finding a coaches’ coach–someone who can walk with you through the ups and downs of client acquisition, retention, coaching, and profit maximization. But you need to be able to discern the pretenders from the practitioners.
Here’s how to tell them apart.
Someone who spends most of their time doing
Pay attention to people’s resumes. What kind of experience do they have as a coach or an entrepreneur? What kind of success have they experienced? And more importantly, how engaged are they still in the business of business? A proven track record and a commitment to staying current on trends and tactics go a long way toward ensuring you have someone you can rely on.
A system and a method
Skilled practitioners approach their work with a system and method in mind. Why? Because hard-won experience has shown them what works and what doesn’t. Beware those who give advice but can’t articulate why it matters–this is usually a sign of an untested method.
Skilled practitioners approach their work with a system and method in mind. Why? Because hard-won experience has shown them what works and what doesn't. Beware those who give advice but can't articulate why it matters--this is usually a sign of an untested method.
A heart for teaching and coaching
While the best coaches are the best practitioners, the opposite isn’t always true: not all skilled practitioners make good teachers and coaches. Sometimes, they operate on instinct, and can’t quite articulate the cause of their success. And if they can’t articulate it, they can’t share it! So spend time with a potential coaches’ coach and get a feel for their teaching and coaching skills before making a hire.
Certified Coaches’ Coaches do all three
At the Coaches’ Coach, we take care to ensure that our Certified Coaches’ Coaches check all the boxes. In order to be considered for certification, they have to be bringing in over six figures annually in revenue as a coach; they use our own Coaches’ Coach comprehensive coaching system, which was created from years of on-the-ground coaching experience; and we vet them to ensure that they are gifted teachers and coaches who have passion for passing on their knowledge. If you’re looking for a coaches’ coach, try a free 30-day trial of our system, and get a complimentary coaching session with one of our Certified Coaches’ Coaches.
