Many coaches and consultants have similar tendencies and mindsets potentially holding us back. If you are a coach or consultant, I am sure you can relate.
Here are four quick ways to become a more confident coach and consultant today:
Tip #1. Ignore Imposter Syndrome
A common theme among small business owners, coaches, and consultants is suffering from Imposter Syndrome.
What is Imposter Syndrome? Impostor syndrome (also known as Impostor Phenomenon or Fraud Syndrome) describes high-achieving individuals who are marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud”.
In other words, many of the small business owners, coaches, and consultants that I worked with were not confident in their amazing abilities. They were scared of being “found out” for what they “truly were”…a fake. And on top of that, they thought they were the only ones who had their given set of issues and that literally, every other small business coach had it together.
Obviously, this isn't true.
My recommendation is to ignore the Imposter Syndrome and not be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
NEWSFLASH: you have major guts for starting your own small business, and you have inherent strengths because of that.
THIS JUST IN: you aren't an imposter; you're the real deal.
Tip #2. Network for help
If you do have room for improvement in your business, first of all, you're not alone. Many are experiencing the exact same things you are. Don't be afraid to ask for help! Networking is a great way to do this.
This can be overwhelming but start somewhere. Our Facebook group is a great way to get involved and meet other small business owners, coaches, consultants, and professional service providers. It is life-changing and completely worth your time.
Tip #3. Lead with your strengths
Gary Vaynerchuk speaks a lot about focusing on what you're good at and outsourcing the rest. While we can't outsource everything, I think there is a lot of truth to what he says. Many coaches and consultants would be wise to do this when working with their clients. After all, if you are a naturally gifted quarterback, why should you focus your efforts on developing as a better kicker?
So what if you don't know your strengths? The first step is to learn them! You can participate in several activities/programs to learn what you're really great at.
From there, if there are ways to leverage these strengths, do it. If you can outsource or delegate other tasks, do it. Your talent is better served elsewhere, and you will get quicker results by focusing on what you're good at first.
Tip #4. Don't be afraid to start
This is true for your coaching and consulting business and your client's businesses.
For your business: Version 1 is better than version none.
Just do something! Then you have something to iterate on. How can you expect to get different results when you continue to do the same behaviors?
Chalmers Brothers says, “If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.” This couldn't be truer in coaching and consulting. You have everything to gain from just starting something. Even if it “fails,” you will learn something, which propels you forward.
For your customers: All of this is true for your clients as well. Many will be scared to take the leap to commit. A majority of the time they will be scared to fail or make a mistake. If you make a safe space for them to try things out and potentially make mistakes, they will be more likely to leap.
Tip #5. Leverage constructive tension
As a coach or consultant, you get paid to have conversations for a living. An important part of having effective conversations is leveraging constructive tension.
Constructive tension is the space between current reality and a future vision. It's that slightly uncomfortable or awkward moment before something amazing happens for your clients.
Oftentimes it is found when having difficult conversations where you apply some gentle pressure to help your client create results. If we're doing things right, there should always be constructive tension because we should be constantly working toward a new future.
The same thing holds true with our clients. We need to find the appropriate amount of tension while challenging our clients to be better.
If we have too little, our clients will never escape their default future. If we have too much, they may get defensive, burned out, and stressed because what we are asking may not be presently possible.
Although it is right to lead with our strengths, if leveraging constructive tension isn't one of your current talents, I would recommend emphasizing improving yourself in this area. It will assist you and your clients in being more successful. Here are some of the benefits:
- It creates authentic communication
- Concerns are voiced and are emotions released
- New mindset = growth.
Applying these tips will see a dramatic increase in your coaching and consulting effectiveness. Not only will you become a better coach or consultant, but your clients will become exponentially more successful. Give them a try, and let me know your results!
