Why We All Need a Coach

“Everyone needs a coach,” said Bill Gates during his Ted Talk. “We all need people who give us feedback. This is how we improve.”¹

This is the key fundamental of any coaching initiative. Leaders are usually the ones giving the feedback; they so rarely have the chance to receive any themselves. Plus, when the client is too close to something, it’s difficult to critique it objectively.

A coach acts as an impartial problem-solver. You will enable the client to identify exactly where the problems lie by highlighting what triggers them. By implementing the coaching tools you have acquired on your journey, you can help to resolve recurring issues for good, clearing the way for efficiency and creativity to flow much easier. The value of that can be extraordinary.

Companies Are Recognising the Benefits of Coaching

Studies have shown that the return on investment (ROI) for organizations from Executive Coaching can be as high as 5000% in some cases.² Business leaders are realising all the time how transformative coaching can be. The initial outlay is far outweighed by the potential revenue it can generate.

Criticism vs Feedback

Of course, there is a fine line between positive and negative evaluation of the facts. A great coach always knows the safest way to walk it.

To criticise is to dwell on the past, assigning blame and enforcing guilt. Feedback looks forward rather than backwards. It’s about assessing things as they currently stand, acknowledging what is working, and coming up with constructive solutions for what isn’t.

Judgement is a waste of time and energy for all involved. The client did the best they could with what they had at the time. The past cannot be changed, but the future can be improved. You are there to enhance efficiency, prevent loss of revenue, and increase productivity. Well-constructed feedback is a bridge to those outcomes.

Paint a Picture of the Future

If Bill Gates, founder of one of the biggest technology companies in history, can recognise that ‘everybody needs a coach’, your clients shouldn’t need much persuading. Whether they’re top-level directors or small business owners, all you need to do is create a vision of how their world will change for the better. Show them how their lives will be easier. Demonstrate how just a few small changes will have the money rolling in. Do this and your clients will soon appreciate why everybody needs a coach.

You can learn directly from our industry’s top thought leaders for FREE at the WBECS 2019 Pre-Summit – secure your spot by registering TODAY at https://www.wbecs.com/wbecs19/

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WBECS Team

The Golden Age of Coaching: a reflection by David Goldsmith

As the ICF approaches its silver anniversary, we find ourselves in the golden age of coaching. During the last few weeks, I’ve spoken with many coaching pioneers and reflected on our industry’s history. 25 years ago, coaching began getting significant news coverage; yet, the industry was still in its infancy. People began calling themselves coaches and sought opportunities for formal training. Thomas Leonard’s Coach U provided some of those opportunities. At the time, I was Coach U’s President. Thomas and I spoke about the growing need for coaches to associate. We recognized a strong need for an organization to set standards and provide coaches a home. We incorporated the organization, set up the first website, and encouraged fellow coaches to join the first board and host chapters. We realized that for coaching to grow, the association needed to be independent, and global. We also sought to include a wide range of coaching theories and practices. We felt that because we represented a training organization, it would be a conflict of interest for us to take a more active role in the association. So, we turned over the creation of ICF to its board and volunteers. Over the last 25 years, these pioneers have really brought the ICF organization to life! Madeleine Homan (who served on the first board) and I were reminiscing just last week about the beginning of ICF and were so thrilled to see how coaching has grown to a $15 billion industry. We are proud of the pivotal role the ICF has played in this growth. It’s a stunning achievement that in just 25 years, the ICF has become such a global force. Thomas would be thrilled to see what’s happened to the Coach Federation. When I recently visited with Magda Mook, ICF’s long serving executive director, I was surprised to learn how large and complex the ICF has become. It’s an influential and substantial global association. ICF has benefited from her long tenure and her leadership. I don’t know whether the ICF would have become the premier organization it is without her. While Thomas and I founded ICF, that was really just the spark to ignite the growing flame. The real creation work was done by the many board members, volunteers, chapter hosts, assessors and staff. I’m proud of how our industry has grown. Credit for this growth belongs in large part to the heavy lifting that so many have done to get us here. All of these people deserve a great deal of acknowledgement. I’m grateful to those who took the framework and built this amazing organization. We have a lot to celebrate!! Learn directly from David Goldsmith and Head of Coaching at Google David Peterson, by registering for the Foundations of Great Coaching course! Accelerate your coaching journey and become the great coach your clients need, FASTER than you ever thought possible. Visit https://www.wbecs.com/ace/foundations/

by WBECS Team
Nov 11, 2019

Fight or Flight: 5 Fears That Keep Coaches from Pursuing Their Dream

Let’s begin with a little bit about you. You believe your calling is to teach and help people. You are passionate about the delivery of world-class coaching, and have a vested interest in the thought leaders, managers, business owners, professionals, and up-and-coming talent currently making a difference within this exciting sector of the business world. But... You have some nagging doubts that may be preventing you from becoming what you have always known you could be - that little voice at the back of your mind telling you, “it can’t be done”. The good news is: you are not alone. Many would-be coaches harbor the very same fears that you do - it’s just a pity that those fears might keep you from fulfilling your life’s goal. Deciding to face your fears and learn to coach may be one of the most rewarding decisions you will ever make, and building a practice to earn the income you want is not an unattainable target. With the right training, tools and support, you can accomplish wonders. So, what are the five most common fears people share with us that are keeping them from living their dream? ONE: “Will I make enough money?” Existing surveys about coaches show average incomes that are far below what executives and senior leaders make. If you have ever come across these kinds of statistics, don’t be disheartened. These surveys suffer from severe biases; for example, they typically include holistic and life coaches (who tend to have lower incomes), and newer coaches who want just want their voices heard. You’ll be pleased to know that the outlook is not as grim as the surveys suggest. Good executive and leadership coaches typically charge $1500 to $5500 per month, per client - and that’s before other services you might choose to offer, such as facilitation, training, consulting, and assessment work. With that in mind, it wouldn’t take many clients to build a substantial income from your coaching business. The trick is to know how to market yourself, and the language to use to attract clients - you just have to know who can teach you. TWO: “Do I have enough time to set up a practice?” If you are stuck in a day job that leaves you less than enthused, and would rather begin your new coaching career, now is the time to start. The longer you wait, the more you risk having less time than you’d like to open your practice. Corporate life is volatile. Start learning now while you have the financial resources from your current role, or it will only be harder to get started later on – especially if you are made redundant or let go without warning. It’s easy to say you don’t have time, or that you’re too busy. We’re all busy. That won’t change. We have to make time for the things we want in life. If you can set aside a few hours per week to study, you can become a coach. It’s as simple as that. Sometimes your biggest obstacles are the excuses you make for yourself. Don’t be the thing that gets in the way of you and your dream. THREE: “The market is saturated.” The perfect example of such an excuse. The answer to this is no, it isn’t. There are lots of coaches, but few great ones. There are almost unlimited niches where you can play a leading role. You just have to know how to position yourself in the market - and it’s possible to learn how to do this. FOUR: “My significant other and friends think I am taking too big a risk.” Yes, starting a coaching practice is starting a business like any other. However, the initial investment is cost-effective by comparison and you will come away with skills you can use in any situation. Isn’t it riskier to do nothing and continue to hate your current situation? If you have close friends that are keeping you from the things you want, perhaps you need better friends. Surround yourself with positive people who encourage your life purpose. Talk to people who have made the transition successfully. Find groups on social media where you can talk to like-minded individuals. Research solutions that will enable you to pursue your ambitions. Shut out all the noise telling you ‘no’. FIVE: “I am too old, I don’t have a degree, I am too young, I haven’t worked for a major brand, etc.” We can all find reasons not to do something. The fact is, they are only as true as you believe them to be. Flip those excuses on their heads. You aren’t too old - you offer years of proven experience and results. You aren’t too young - you offer a fresh perspective. You don’t need to find clients among the major brands, because the biggest market is in small to mid-sized enterprises. However, even the big brands could benefit from your input - consider that they have plenty of people with years of experience and qualifications from good schools, and they still get things wrong from time to time. Show them why they need you and how you can change their world! Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway There is a little-known phrase you may have heard before “YOLO” - which stands for, “You only live once”. As far as anyone knows, you only get one shot at this life. The question is, would you rather regret the things you could have done or seize every opportunity that comes your way? Fear is only a force if you feed it. If you really want to be a coach, and you know in your bones that you would love it and be great at it, then you owe it to yourself to let nothing hold you back. You can learn directly from Andrew for FREE at the WBECS 2019 Pre-Summit - secure your spot by registering TODAY at https://www.wbecs.com/wbecs19/ Andrew and WBECS partnered to create Coach Master Toolkit - the ultimate package of frameworks for professional coaches. To find out more about CMT, visit http://www.wbecs.com/cmt/program/ today! Subscribe to the WBECS blog below

by Oleksii Abrosimov
May 06, 2019

How Coaching Differs from Consulting and Mentoring

If you’re anything like me, I’ll bet you’ve heard people refer to you as something you’re not. “Oh, Andrew? Yes, he’s a mentor for professionals.” Or, “I know Andrew - he’s some sort of business consultant.” Like you, I am a coach. I would not call myself a mentor or a consultant. They are very different beasts; however, people often confuse the meanings of these terms, to the point where, in a general sense, they are often considered to be the same thing. Having grown tired of correcting your friends and colleagues, there may have been times when the thought, “maybe I am what they say” has crossed your mind. I’m here to help you navigate your way through this terminology so that, at the very least, your identity as a coach is clear to you, even if it isn’t always clear to others. In order to understand the differences between coaching, consulting and mentoring, it is important to understand the definitions of each. COACH (Noun, Verb): (Noun) - one who instructs or trains. (Verb) - coached; coaching; coaches. (Intransitive verb) - to instruct, direct or prompt. (Transitive verb) - to train intensively (as by instruction and demonstration).1 First of all, it’s important to note that the word ‘coach’ can be both a noun and a verb. It is a vocation and an action - something you are and actively do in equal measure. As a coach, you are an instructor, a trainer. However, I think the key word in the above definition is ‘prompt’ - you are a prompter - a coaxer. With pure coaching, you are not there to give your client the answers - the answers come from the client. The nature of ‘doing’ coaching comes from prompting your client to address the challenges they face by asking the right questions. You help them to examine the behaviors that may contribute to their woes. Together you can then formulate a plan of action to improve things in a way that works best for them. CONSULTANT (Noun): 1) one who consults another; 2) one who gives professional advice or services : EXPERT.2 This is where coaching differs from consulting. A consultant is usually an expert in a particular field - a renowned specialist hired for their knowledge so that the client may draw from this. A coach is not necessarily an aficionado of a client’s business. A coach is more about the methodology rather than the specifics. You may find that you have worked with clients who faced similar struggles. The difference is, unlike a consultant, you don’t have to have a PhD, professional qualification or previous experience in the industry your client works in. MENTOR (Noun): a trusted counsellor or guide.3 Mentoring being confused with coaching is easily explained. The key element here is time. Coaching is often a relationship with a set duration agreed at the outset; whereas mentoring is an ongoing, longer-term relationship. A mentor acts as a trusted advisor - a friend of the client with knowledge of their backstory and personal traits, who is called upon regularly. Striking a Balance Of course, there is no law that says you can’t incorporate elements of all three into your coaching mix. The secret is longevity. Cultivating long-term relationships with your clients will enable you to become a 'combination coach' - an achievement entirely possible with the right tools and frameworks at your disposal. With all this in mind, it makes sense that these terms are often lumped together as meaning the same thing. By combining all three into one, you could find yourself with a very potent recipe for success - and less frustrated at social gatherings when your profession comes up in conversation. Andrew Neitlich is the founder and director of the Center for Executive Coaching, a leading coach training organization based in Central Florida. Neitlich is author of five books and received his MBA from Harvard Business School. You can learn directly from Andrew for FREE at the WBECS 2019 Pre-Summit - secure your spot by registering TODAY at https://www.wbecs.com/wbecs19/ Andrew and WBECS partnered to create Coach Master Toolkit - the ultimate package of frameworks for professional coaches. To find out more about CMT, visit http://www.wbecs.com/cmt/program today! Subscribe to the WBECS blog below

by Oleksii Abrosimov
Apr 01, 2019

“Everyone needs a coach,” said Bill Gates during his Ted Talk. “We all need people who give us feedback. This is how we improve.”1 This is the key fundamental of any coaching initiative. Leaders are usually the ones giving the feedback; they so rarely have the chance to receive any themselves. Plus, when the client is too close to something, it’s difficult to critique it objectively. A coach acts as an impartial problem-solver. You will enable the client to identify exactly where the problems lie by highlighting what triggers them. By implementing the coaching tools you have acquired on your journey, you can help to resolve recurring issues for good, clearing the way for efficiency and creativity to flow much easier. The value of that can be extraordinary. Companies Are Recognising the Benefits of Coaching Studies have shown that the return on investment (ROI) for organizations from Executive Coaching can be as high as 5000% in some cases.2 Business leaders are realising all the time how transformative coaching can be. The initial outlay is far outweighed by the potential revenue it can generate. Criticism vs Feedback Of course, there is a fine line between positive and negative evaluation of the facts. A great coach always knows the safest way to walk it. To criticise is to dwell on the past, assigning blame and enforcing guilt. Feedback looks forward rather than backwards. It’s about assessing things as they currently stand, acknowledging what is working, and coming up with constructive solutions for what isn’t. Judgement is a waste of time and energy for all involved. The client did the best they could with what they had at the time. The past cannot be changed, but the future can be improved. You are there to enhance efficiency, prevent loss of revenue, and increase productivity. Well-constructed feedback is a bridge to those outcomes. Paint a Picture of the Future If Bill Gates, founder of one of the biggest technology companies in history, can recognise that ‘everybody needs a coach’, your clients shouldn’t need much persuading. Whether they’re top-level directors or small business owners, all you need to do is create a vision of how their world will change for the better. Show them how their lives will be easier. Demonstrate how just a few small changes will have the money rolling in. Do this and your clients will soon appreciate why everybody needs a coach. You can learn directly from our industry's top thought leaders for FREE at the WBECS 2019 Pre-Summit - secure your spot by registering TODAY at https://www.wbecs.com/wbecs19/ Subscribe to our blog below!

by WBECS Team
Mar 18, 2019

Identify your “Why”: Welcoming you to the WBECS Blog

Welcome to the first installment of the WBECS blog - your new online home to find everything you need to transform your coaching skills, expand your mindset and connect with the world’s biggest community of professional coaches. Through this platform, we’re going to inspire you on a regular basis to stay motivated and grow your practice by enriching your resources and sparking ideas. You’ll get access to the latest industry tips and trends, expert articles, exclusive interviews and more to help you become the best coach you can be. Let’s kick things off with a question Today, we want to begin by addressing one of the most important questions we need to ask ourselves not just in business but in life…why do we do what we do? As human beings, we are meaning-seeking creatures. Nothing is more fulfilling than getting up in the morning with a clear sense of passion and purpose and knowing that the work we want to do matters in this world. As logical as this sounds, Simon Sinek, author of the New York Times bestseller Start With Why, has found that only very few people or companies can clearly articulate this purpose or core belief from which they operate. "All organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year.” - Simon Sinek When was the last time you asked yourself why you do what you do? Last year, the WBECS team asked themselves that very question, and even wrote a song about it (!), during our annual retreat in Croatia. The Origins of WBECS First, let’s journey back even further. In 2008, our founder Benjamin Croft started the World Business & Executive Coach Summit (WBECS) from the core belief that, as coaches, we have the unique power to add value to the world by bringing out the best of human potential. As coaches, we make it our life’s work to impact people for the better and for the long haul. We help our clients get unstuck from disruptive patterns, turn businesses on the edge of bankruptcy into profitable enterprises, and help heal marriages that are on the brink of divorce. Through our passion and dedication, we don’t just affect the individual clients we work with. We create a ripple effect of transformation, potentially changing thousands, or even millions of lives in the process. However, as important as our role is as stewards of change, our industry become incredibly saturated, and, to this day, is still largely unregulated. This is why we’ve made it our mission at WBECS to raise the standard of our profession and provide the world’s best-possible education for professional coaches. It’s our aim to help you become the best coach you can be, so you can maximize the value you bring to your clients and, as a result, truly make a meaningful difference. Singing the song of success Fast forward 10 years to the summer of 2018. The WBECS team spent 3 weeks together in beautiful Croatia, working, masterminding, envisioning, sailing, dancing, dolphin-spotting, and watching the exciting 2018 World Cup in which both our colleagues from the UK and Croatia were, of course, heavily invested. Our values center around the power of community, putting people first and making the world a better place together. We also value our company culture, which is why we make an effort each year to meet up with our fully remote-working team and have some quality time to reconnect with ourselves, each other and our purpose as a company. Achieving this is no small task either, as WBECS is growing at lightning speed, with a team of over 30 people from 12 different countries. One particular, balmy evening, we were given a challenge: to create a piece of entertainment. We wrote a song together called “Why we do what we do” in which the verses were written based on real-life testimonials received from you, our coaching community. The song served as a reminder to all of us, of our “why”. It’s the lives that we are changing through every training program we create. That is why we do what we do. We are effecting positive change, and that is ultimately what drives us forward. The best is yet to come - for us and for you With a renewed sense of purpose, we moved forward into one of our most successful years to date, and we hope to ignite the same within you. We will soon be kicking off our 2019 WBECS Pre-Summit - a free taster of what to expect during our Full Summit event in the Fall. So, we invite you to stay tuned as we continue to bring you valuable insights, transformative tools and game-changing programs to help elevate you as a coach and do more of the important work you came into this world to do. Share your “Why” with us Now, it’s your turn. We’d love to hear from you! Tell us: what is YOUR “why” as a coach? Why does coaching light you up, fulfill you and fuels you with passion? Let us know in the comments!

by WBECS Team
Feb 04, 2019