JST 230 – The first step to going pro in any field (inc. as a coach)

Photo courtesy of Darkmoon1968 and Pixabay

One of the things I’ve noticed over the years is that people often have a dream or aspiration about something they’d love to do, but lack clarity about the steps along the journey (for instance, countless coaches, therapists and other transformation professionals are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others. But far fewer understand what’s involved in having a transformational impact, growing a thriving practice and ‘going pro’.)

So over the past year I’ve been isolating the specific steps involved, and refining them. What’s resulted is a ‘roadmap’, and while the version of it I’ve created is aimed at coaches, therapists, trainers and consultants, with a little creativity, you’ll be able to see how these steps relate to anyone who wants to transition to doing work that involves you being a ‘trusted advisor’ to others (e.g. expert / speaker / professional services etc). I’ll be going through each of the 7 steps over the next 7 weeks, but if you want to download my new guide, “The 7 Steps for Earning Your Living As a Successful Coach” and get all 7 of them right away, you can get the guide free here. As you read this concise guide, you’re going to discover that it’s simpler than you may have been led to believe. So let’s start with step 1 – Foundations.

STEP – 1 FOUNDATIONS: Embody the basics (and it’s all about the basics)
As a coach, therapist or other transformation professional, the difference you’re able to make is a direct result of your certainty about people’s innate capacity to experience transformation, realise new truths about themselves and their world and find their own solutions to the challenges they face. This starts with you.

Successful coaches are masters of ‘the basics’, constantly developing their abilities and honing their skills. As a successful coach, you walk your talk; you’re living proof of the impact of your work. When you feel comfortable in yourself and your abilities, people are drawn to your presence.

Obviously, the basics for other professions (e.g. doctor, lawyer, accountant, musician, hostage negotiator etc) require a different set of ‘basics’, but the conclusion is the same. The people at the top of their field are masters of the basics, no matter what the field.

The Myth vs The Reality of Step 1
Conventional wisdom will tell you that you need to have rock-solid confidence to be a successful coach, but the reality is this: the true source of your confidence as a coach comes from having certainty about your client’s innate capacity for resilience, realisation and transformation. The more you see the truth of this for yourself, the more certainty you’ll have about it for everyone else, including your clients.

STEP 1 FOCUS
– Get high-quality training in coaching and its core competencies.
– Realize your own innate capacity for creativity, insight and transformation.
– Learn the keys that make a difference in your own life, and in the lives of the people you work with.

Next week we’ll be looking at Step 2 – Impact, but if you want to get all 7 steps right now, you can download “The 7 Steps for Earning Your Living As a Successful Coach”

By the way, during the Certified Clarity Coach Training programme, we put a big focus on establishing and strengthening your foundations, particularly on getting the kind of certainty in your own and your clients’ innate capacity for resilience, realisation and transformation (you may have got a sense of this if you listened to my coaching session with Pam Featherstone.)

The programme is a 10-month immersion into the principles behind clarity. It’s formally open for registration and it’s not just for coaches; we’ve had all sorts of people go through the programme including computer programmers, doctors, call centre workers, lawyers, parents, PR specialists, therapists, office workers, entrepreneurs, surgeons, people who are already coaches and consultants and trainers and even a professional footballer. If you’re interested it’s worth knowing that we’re not running the programme next year so the intake that’s starting this September (2018) is the last chance you’ll get to join us until 2020 at the very earliest. So if you want to find out how to become a Clarity Coach and see what’s involved in bringing an understanding of these principles into every aspect of your life click here

Jamie Smart

Sunday Times Bestselling Author, Speaker and Executive Coach

PLUS: Whenever you’re ready… here are 6 ways I can help you get the clarity and results that matter to you:

1. Listen to the ‘Get Clarity’ Podcast www.jamiesmart.com/claritynow/

2. Hire me to speak at your event: www.jamiesmart.com/book-jamie-to-speak-about/

If you’re a coach or interested in becoming one…

3. Join The Thriving Coaches Facebook group

4. Listen to The Thriving Coaches Podcast

5. Take part in the Thriving Coaches Blueprint. our 90 day, rapid-implementation programme to help you get more clients and grow your coaching or therapy practice (doors now open!)

6. Learn more about the Certified Clarity Coach Training Programme, our 10-month deep-immersion into the principles behind clarity (doors now open! The programme starts September 2018 and won’t run again until 2020 at the earliest.)

If you’re looking to change job, career or move from FTE to something more fulfilling…

7. Join the Transition Launchpad Facebook group

8. Learn more about Escape Velocity: The Transition Blueprint our 90 day programme to help you transition into doing fulfilling work.