The following is taken from David’s interview with Rachel Pryor in 10 Super Coaches.
Would you advise coaches to pursue certification?
Yes, yes and yes. There are just too many people who set themselves up as coaches – it is getting increasingly clear that those with certifications stand out.
If so, at what stage in their practice, and through which accrediting body?
Certification requires a certain number of client hours, so that might determine how soon you can become certified. I went straight for the highest certification there is (CCMC with CoachInc, and CMC with the International Coach Federation) because I had more than enough client hours (2500+). I certified after 3 years coaching.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Rachel Pryor in 10 Super Coaches.
What top three methods, in order, did you use to get your clients in the first 2 years?
In the first 2 years, I committed to never getting a client through my network – I wanted to start again. So I attracted media attention, and clients came through articles. It took around 3 years to have a totally self-sufficient, referral-based practice.
However, coaching is no longer ‘news’ so I would recommend that coaches get clients through doing what they enjoy – if it is speaking, writing (internet-based publications are always looking for new material), or finding more original ways to enjoy themselves and become known.
I also mentored other coaches for 5 years or so, though I made sure that I never had more than 1/3 of my practice made up of coaches, because I felt that would become unreal.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Rachel Pryor in 10 Super Coaches.
Do you recommend offering free coaching?
I offered free coaching to my first 3 clients, for 3 months, and they helped me to identify the documentation I needed for my practice. After 3 months, I found I began to resent giving away for free, so I stopped. I also occasionally offer free coaching in return for some service, however this is not very effective for me.
Never get into a situation when you have offered free coaching without a limit on the timescale.
