“I collaborate with coaches and others who possess significant knowledge.”

Kate Solovieva, a past psychology professor, is a PN master coach and the director of community engagement for PN.

This quote has turned into one of her defining phrases.

While Coach Kate has worked with thousands of “regular” clients, her main focus is coaching other coaches.

In her role as an instructor for PN’s Level 2 Master Health Coaching Certification, as a facilitator for PN’s exclusive online coaching groups, and in her private practice, she gains an insightful perspective on the inquiries and obstacles faced by both novice and experienced coaches.

Coach Kate understands what fellow coaches are doing.

Having witnessed the successes and missteps of countless coaches, she will today share three frequent errors she notices in their practices.

If there’s one thing Coach Kate aspires to, it’s witnessing her colleagues attain remarkable success; thus, her aim with this article is to aid coaches in:

• Overcoming paralysis caused by insecurity and doubt—and initiating the growth of their business
• Learning to perceive their clients more objectively, enabling them to effectively meet their needs and goals
• Clearly defining their duties as a coach (hint: they’re often misunderstood by many coaches)
• Utilizing their innate passion and commitment to a client’s success—without exhausting themselves

We’ll discuss three prevalent coaching errors, along with strategies to rectify them. Let’s dive in.

Coaching mistake #1: Prioritizing coaching over selling

Coach Kate likens a coaching business to a three-legged stool.

• There’s the coaching leg (representing your skills and expertise as a coach),
• A selling leg (reflecting your capacity to market and draw in clients), and
• An administrative leg (which encompasses the processes for clients booking appointments, making payments, and other organizational tools and systems).

“Most individuals entering coaching begin with the coaching leg,” Kate mentions.

“They aspire to be the best coach they can become, which is commendable. However, becoming the best coach requires more than just information and theory.”

As Kate points out, “You cannot achieve your best coaching potential in isolation, conversing with yourself in your office.”

That’s why she encourages coaches to challenge the tendency to wait until their knowledge feels “complete.”

Instead, she advocates for starting to sell right away.

Why?

Coaches who begin selling earlier also commence coaching earlier.

As time progresses, they’ll hold an edge over those coaches who seek to be “the BEST coach they can be” by acquiring 12 certifications before offering their services.

In the meantime, the coach who “may not know everything” but has begun practicing will start to develop their business and coaching experience—and is likely to enhance their chances of overall success.

Solution: Remember to present yourself as a COACH, not an EXPERT

It’s common for aspiring coaches, who seek to perform well, to aim for those 12 certifications before they embark on coaching.

“Sometimes we cling to the idea that there will come a moment when we feel confident enough to address any question that comes up,” Kate states.

Because every coach understands that once you share what you do, questions will arise. Often, these questions may be ones you aren’t equipped to answer, leading to an uncomfortable—sometimes even embarrassing—situation.

(You’re meant to be the expert, correct??)

According to Coach Kate, this belief—that you must be an authority with all the answers—is rooted in a flawed assumption.

“When I engage in a coaching conversation, my role is not merely ‘the expert