5 Ways to be a Successful Coaching Client
So you’re new to coaching! It’s like therapy in that you schedule sessions to talk with a professional 1:1 (see blog post “What is Coaching vs. Counseling vs. Consulting”) but with me, you’d work specifically on reaching career goals.
Many of my [potential] clients start coaching hopeful but not sure how to make the most of it. This blog post will lay out the characteristics of my most successful clients so you can be successful too.
First of all, here are the basics of my coaching sessions:
60 minutes each
Online video calls
Usually every 2 weeks
Homework after every session
$200 per session within packages, $250 for single sessions
As a career coach, I have dedicated hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to becoming highly skilled in my profession because I really enjoy helping people navigate career processes and reach their goals. But I can only do so much.
As a client, you get as much as you put in. So here’s what I recommend you put in:
BE OPEN AND HONEST: I’m not here to judge or shame you in your career frustrations or lack of success, so tell me everything! From the very first coaching fit call (Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute phone call to assess whether we’d be a good coach/client fit), it really helps me to know not just what you want to achieve but also your feelings around it, things you’ve tried that didn’t work, personal relationship factors, etc. Clients who are open and honest will allow me to help them better navigate all the important factors in achieving their career goals.
COMMIT TO THE PROCESS: The main reason I offer packages of sessions and make them cheaper per session than single sessions “à la carte” style is because I want to help clients follow through in the process of either career exploration, career transition, or career change. (see blog post “Career Change vs. Career Transition, and How a Career Coach Can Help” and my Services page for the different packages I offer) In the past when I only offered individual sessions, many clients would have a great 1 or 2 sessions then drop off, which is really a waste of their time and money because they didn’t progress enough to accomplish anything. Requiring my clients to pay for multiple sessions upfront helps hold clients accountable to themselves to make the improvements they want in their career. Clients who commit to the process have a much higher chance of accomplishing their career goals.
COMPLETE YOUR HOMEWORK: Every session ends with the client agreeing to some kind of homework to complete before the next session, whether it be introspective writing, researching something, and/or reaching out to certain people for networking. This work between sessions is to help clients deepen their work and further their progress in the process without the ticking clock of our hourlong sessions. They can think and do it on their own time. If clients don’t complete all their homework by the next session, I don’t shame or lecture. Instead, I ask them non-judgmentally what barriers got in the way and help them plan to be more successful next time. Clients who complete their homework will progress much faster in reaching career goals.
KEEP UP REGULARLY SCHEDULED SESSIONS: I generally recommend we meet every 2 weeks - enough time to get homework done but not too long that they’ll lose momentum. I offer a lot of flexibility when clients need to reschedule when needed (with at least a day’s notice). Clients who keep up regularly scheduled sessions will progress better in reaching their goals because they won’t forget and have to redo the work they’ve already done.
TRY NEW THINGS: I believe that “life begins at the end of your comfort zone” and no growth is comfortable. So if you’re seeking coaching, you’re telling me that you’re ready and willing to commit to the process of growth in order to improve your career. I’ll likely suggest doing new things that may feel uncomfortable (like reaching out to strangers!) or help you do things you know you should do but haven’t yet (like updating your LinkedIn profile). Clients who are willing to try new things will grow in rewarding ways that will get them closer to their career goals faster.
There you have it. Coaching is a journey we take together as coach and client. I’m ready and excited to help you be successful. Come join me!
