“Coaching is the art of facilitating the performance, learning, and development of another.” – Sir John Whitmore, a pioneer of the executive coaching industry, an author and a British racing driver.
Emerging as one of the most transformative professions globally, coaching offers individuals the chance to unlock their hidden potential and achieve meaningful, sometimes even life-altering, changes. While anyone can set up shop, earn credentials and start practicing, becoming a truly exceptional coach who ensures positive change both in their, as well as, their client’s life requires dedication, continuous learning and a true passion for growth.
If you’ve ever wondered how to elevate your coaching practice and stand out in a competitive field filled with ICF-Accredited Coaching Programs and advanced certifications, this guide is for you. Here are 10 essential tips to help you become a coach who inspires, transforms, and drives results.
1 . Create a safe and supportive environment
Just like every other amazing relationship, a great coaching relationship also begins by building trust. Whether you specialize in life-coach training or corporate team-building sessions, a safe, judgement-free environment is crucial for success.
Clients are more likely to open up and accept transformation through your guidance when they feel supported and understood. This space, built on trust and mutual respect, allows them to share their vulnerabilities, making your role more impactful. An unsupportive, judgemental or overly critical environment can negatively impact progress and be extremely detrimental to the practice of coaching.
2 . Master the art of Active Listening
An extremely important tool in any certified professional coach’s toolkit is the art of listening. More than being a good listener, a coach needs to be an effective and active listener. Active listening goes beyond hearing – it is about understanding the intentions and feelings that are underlying the conversation.
An easy trick to master active listening is to follow the 80/20 rule: listen for 80% of the session and speak for only 20%. Your client must have your utmost attention – avoid using your phone or multitasking, during the session. This also helps build deeper connections with your client that can pave the way for meaningful results.
3 . Avoid setting agendas for any session
Every client is unique in their own way and so, brings their own unique challenges and goals to the table. A rigid, pre-set agenda may limit the natural flow of the session and reduce the session’s effectiveness.
Instead, it is recommended that you approach each session with flexibility. Do not enter a session with an agenda for the day and do not meet with a client with an expectation of the outcome. This mindset can be extremely important and effective, especially in transformative coaching, where breakthroughs often happen unexpectedly. By keeping an open mind and being adaptable, you can allow the session to focus on what matters the most to the client at that moment.
4 . Make sure that the end goal is clear, for both you and your client
A great coach makes sure that they align every session with the end goal of their client. Before starting any session with a new client, discuss their priorities and what they hope to achieve with the coaching sessions.
For example, in leadership coaching, this might involve improving decision-making or enhancing team dynamics. Keep these goals in mind throughout your sessions to ensure your approach remains relevant and results-driven.
5 . Ask the right questions
An often overlooked, but extremely important, ability that an exceptional coach has is that they ask the right questions. Focus on asking open-ended questions to your client, to give them the opportunity to think, reflect and come to conclusions, by themselves. For example,
Ask the “HOWs” and the “WHATs” and avoid the “WHYs”, as they can feel accusatory and result in defensive answers. By steering the conversation in the right direction, you can achieve the main goal of coaching, which is to incite answers from the clients themselves and not to provide answers.
6 . Make use of tried and tested coaching methods
Many of the best coaches base their foundations on proven frameworks like the GROW Model (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) to structure sessions effectively. This model is, while particularly used in ICF coaching certification programs, can also be used in other structured approaches.
This model also reinforces the fact that the goal of coaching is to empower your clients to take ownership of their progress, without dictating their solutions.
7 . Keep your ego in check
As a coach, your role is to help support – not overshadow – your client’s journey. Your client always takes priority and so, set aside personal pride and focus entirely on your client’s growth.
Keep in mind that your clients will always value self-discovered solutions as compared to spoon-fed solutions. By keeping your ego in check and out of the equation, you will be able to foster a collaborative and encouraging environment that places focus on their agency and potential.
8 . Maintain the balance between support and challenge
Great coaches are both empathetic and firm. While it is good to constantly encourage and reassure your clients, they will also often benefit from a gentle push to step outside their comfort zone.
Support their thoughts and feelings without invalidating them and at the same time, stretch their thinking and self-imposed limits. By maintaining this balance, you can ensure that the coaching remains supportive yet impactful.
9 . Your growth is just as important
“Invest in as much of yourself as you can, you are your own biggest asset by far.” – Warren Buffet.
The best coaches never stop learning and the best way you can lead someone to help themselves is by helping yourself. Many seasoned coaches also work with their mentors. If you’ve never experienced coaching yourself, it’s time to do so – both to improve your skills and to understand the client’s perspective better.
10 . Lead by example
Clients will trust you more if they see you actioning the principles that you are guiding them with – authenticity matters. Make journaling, mindfulness, goal setting, and everything else you encourage your clients to do, a part of your own daily routine.
The Journey to becoming an exceptional coach
These tips are just the starting point for building a successful coaching practice. Coaching is more than a career – it’s a commitment to transforming lives. So, embrace the process, refine your skills, and keep striving to be the best coach you can be.
