Why your Niche as a Coach is the difference that makes the difference

'Why your niche as a coach is the difference that makes the difference' has been a long time coming. It's something I struggled with for years, not realizing how important it was. 

I can remember when I began my coaching business in 2003. My gorgeous new business cards had just arrived in the mail and I  was so excited.and couldn’t wait to start signing up clients.

My training had consisted of an 8 week course which I thought was a qualification. I found out later that it wasn't.

Then I experienced my first taste of “What if I can’t help clients get results!?” What if I don't know what to say or ask? What if I 'dry up"?

And so began the never-ending search for information, skills and learning that would make me a confident, competent coach that could help clients get the result they wanted.

◉ THE EARLY DAYS

I madly searched online for training schools, (there was very little available in Sydney in 2003) and I found Coachville, a coaching school in the US. I  joined immediately. How lucky was I, Coachville were, and still are, one of the most significant coaching schools in the world, having been founded by Thomas J. Leonard, now referred to as the founding father of professional coaching.

With a little more training I was feeling a little more confident and over the grapevine I heard about niching but I didn’t think it applied to me. I was telling people I was a Life Coach but there was nothing happening. All I heard were Crickets,

And More Crickets!

Then I suddenly began to attract clients, with all sorts of issues, and I began to coach. Clients usually came in 3’s, I would get 3 clients, then nothing for a month or so, then another 3 and this went on for quite a while. Then those clients began to send referrals, and I was off and running.

I had no real marketing or business knowledge except for a natural inclination to selling, I could sell snow to eskimos, for someone else. It was quite remarkable what I could sell for others, but never even thought of 'selling' coaching. Talk about naive.

◉ I TRIED EVERYTHING

I tried all kinds of niches, without knowing what a Niche really was, but nothing stuck, I was a generalist and was terrified of sending anyone away if they wanted to coach with me.I never knew when the next client would appear out of the blue so I took anyone with a heartbeat and a credit card.

And I loved them all, I was so lucky that I attracted such fabulous clients. I will be forever grateful for that experience. Things weren't so bad. And my clients were getting amazing value. And I was getting experience.

Years ticked  by, I discovered the ‘Get Clients Now’, book and learned marketing, strategies, systems etc. which gave me a thirst for more.  I studied marketing and business anywhere I could. I took courses, read books, watched videos and slowly it began to sink in. Ultimately I became a  Licensed Facilitator of the Get Client's Now programme,  which I still love.

There was actually a method to running a business. It wasn’t random. Doh!!! And now I could teach that to others. By now I had so many qualifications and skillsets I  could have chosen anything and had the confidence to coach around it.

I still couldn’t settle on a Niche, I was closer than I had ever been but I didn’t have that Tingle when I thought about it. That ‘OMG this is it" feeling I got when I DID eventually nail my niche.

And that was fairly recently, which is a little embarrassing to admit. but you know, it takes as long as it takes, and no longer. So. never give up!

◉ EUREKA!

My Eureka moment came out of the blue via a comment a coach I was working with made regarding my website, and it wasn’t so much what she said as how I received it. It was just BOOM! and it changed my world!

It had been staring me in the face but I couldn't see it. Thankfully, she did, and in a slightly different way, which led to my Eureka moment. If it hadn't been for her comment, I would still be struggling and frustrated.

From the outside very little has changed but on the inside it is a whole other story. That is the real difference.

Now, why is it the difference that makes the difference? I will finally get to the point of this article.

I thought it worth sharing the above ramble because when I was in that State of not knowing I thought' EVERYONE' else knew exactly who theIr niche was, (or it didn't matter to them). And it drove me Nuts!  If you feel like that too, please know that you are not alone, not by a long shot, there are so many coaches struggling with this.

◉ WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU NICHE DOWN

Here are just a few of the benefits of niching down.

This clarity also raises your confidence levels and puts you on a higher plane. You feel sure of yourself, and your skills and abilities to serve your clients at the highest level, and charging higher fees is easy for you. Your worth is a given.

And that is the difference that makes the difference and why I encourage coaches to Niche down, especially if they are struggling to get or maintain a client base.

Where do you stand? Are you for Niching or against it? I'd love you to comment and share your thoughts.

FURTHER READING

To Niche or not? that is the question - including steps to help you find your niche.