Why should you invest in yourself? I like the analogy of being on a plane & having to use the oxygen yourself first. If you don't, then you simply aren't in a position to help others. I'm not saying coaching is quite so crucial, but investing in yourself is SO important & really shows how you walk your talk as a coach



Start as you mean to go on...from the word go. (Note - do your homework & review your finances - this is about the best you can afford rather than spending money you don't have right now! Some coaches also offer scholarship programs or places if this is really an issue for you, or offer self coaching or group coaching)

It's all about thinking big to get big results

Being coached at your own level may lead to the comfort zone factor - not challenging yourself sufficiently about what you can achieve. Be your best friend, rather than your devils advocate - escape thinking about the worst by working with your coach on what you DO want. We focus on the pain & why we can't rather than what we can do. Stretch...you want to come out of coaching feeling ready to take on the challenge, excited & maybe slightly wondering just HOW you are going to do it. Stretching yourself takes you continually to the next level!

Once you know what you are willing to invest in yourself, you can gauge where you'd like your client price to be.

What do you think about your beliefs about pricing. I'd been quite happy to invest a good sum in my own coaching, but then when I was setting prices set them low. It was only when I was working with this & my pricing in general with my business coach that I realised the disparity & that meant coaches in the situation I was wanting to work with WERE prepared to invest - I just had to get the offer & value right.

A more experienced coach has tools & tips that you can tap into.

Higher pricing doesn't always equal higher value. However, you'll need to question your beliefs on your "value" levels if you arne't prepared to invest in the skills of the coach you are planning to work with. Often, the price is a mix of experience + results + training - all designed to get YOU into a better position. Often this means as well as being able to ask powerful coaching questions, they may have questionnaires, handouts, suggestions which fit alongside the coaching. These will add the extra support & value to your coaching experience.

You can choose a coach with specific skills and experience that fits where you are stuck or want to up the ante.

You can have as many coaches as is useful for you & your business. I've had both a co-coach & a professional coach running side by side, where the co-coach & I have worked on smaller or home based issues, and the business coach has helped me with specific things I am stuck on in my business.

You can listen to the coaching language that they use & consider how this could work / or not, in your own practice.

As a coach, it's useful if you can get your sessions recorded & listen to them back - this is something some coaches offer. Even if you can't do this, spend some time at the end of the calls considering what you felt during the call & what the coach did which evoked this in you.

You are modelling their success.

These higher investment coaches are earning their money for a reason - what success modelling can you do with them? Tally what you hear from your coach with your own views & beliefs. What fits for you? Being around successful people, creating a strong social & professional network helps you strengthen your own belief & knowledge that it IS possible

You'll expect more of yourself as they hold you accountable.

Working with a coach is always a powerful tool to take you to the next step - when you get the right coach for you. Working with your coach holds you accountable & often it's just that accountability which drives you further than you ever thought possible!

Action steps for your own coaching success:

1. Think about what you want or need coaching on at the moment. Use the internet, either search engines or coach training school websites to find coaches who offer what you want to work on.

2. Visit their sites to find out more & call 2/3 to find out more & about the fit with what you want to cover in your coaching.

3. List what has worked for you and not worked for you in coaching before, this will help you when you set up your discussions with your new coach. Coaching relationships are not static entities: to get the most out of them spend time considering how they are working for you & what else would take your coaching relationship to the next level. Then take action. What would be even more useful for you - and what do you need to do to make it happen? What else would you like to bring to the coaching to make it more powerful?