At some point in their working lives, most professionals have an experience, receive guidance or hear advice that deeply impacts their career going forward. These essential lessons may help them avoid missteps, maintain their balance, make more informed decisions or all of the above.
Over the years, the members of Forbes Coaches Council have not only helped their clients achieve powerful results and deep, self-aware insights into their lives and work, but as coaches, they have also benefited from working with their own coaches and mentors. Here, 15 member coaches share important lessons they have learned from engagements with coaches and mentors and how these principles impact their practice today.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.1. Energy Management Matters Most
Every single thing a person does either drains their energy battery or recharges it. To master this, start with an accurate assessment of when each is happening. Once that’s understood, focus on minimizing extended periods of energy withdrawals. Plan ahead to incorporate recharging actions into those long days when several energy-draining events are inevitable. - Brian Houp, ReZone Executive Leadership Coaching
2. Ask Yourself, ‘Where Am I The Problem?’
Regularly asking, “What’s it like to be led by me?” gives the team permission to share what’s on their minds and in their hearts. Strong women leaders with dominant styles tend to dismiss or not allow voices to be heard in places where they may be rubbing team members the wrong way. Humbly asking this question opens honest communication, and the team trusts at a deeper level. Trust is king. - Carry Metkowski, Carry Metkowski
3. Market Your Way Through The Tough Times
Early on in my business, a mentor shared that coaches should market their way through the tough times and invest heavily in no-cost or low-cost marketing! She said to write articles, post more heavily on social media, do free public speaking, refine your service offerings, update your website and make new professional connections. These tactics have always paid off, and I am grateful for the advice. - Karen Silins, A+ Career & Resume, LLC
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
4. Choose Your Words And Questions Carefully
Anything you say to a client has power. You may think it’s a small question or reflection, but appreciate the potential impact it may have on your client, and ensure that they are ready to hear it. For example, labeling something as a “problem” versus an “issue” may cause them to think there is something wrong, when in fact it should be viewed as an opportunity. - Julie Kantor, JP Kantor Consulting
5. Don’t Work Harder Than Your Client
Early on, I was so focused on making a difference that I worked really hard. My attachment to producing client results was a barrier to the client doing the heavy lifting. This coincides with the lesson, “Make sure you know whose stuff you’re working on.” Our own deep learning, excavation and growth as coaches, we must ensure that we’re clear and present to keep the focus on the client. - Gina Lavery, Gina Lavery Inc.
6. Help People Feel Important
Many times, people feel like simply a cog in the machine. They lose sight of their value, as well as their opportunities. They tend to focus on what’s wrong and their obstacles to success and happiness, rather than on how they can create their own path. Helping them realize their potential and value creates a positive atmosphere for them to thrive. - John Lowe, Ty Boyd, Inc.
7. Getting Lost Will Help You Find Your Way
“Getting lost will help you find your way” has been the most influential insight and embodied learning I’ve gained from working with my coaching supervisor. This very truth is at the heart of why I am able to enter unknown territories and conversations with less trepidation and a bit more ease. By falling in love with the discovery, we are able to expand our leadership and coaching mindset. - Angela Cusack, Igniting Success
8. Life Is Supposed To Be Fun
“Life is supposed to be fun” is one of the best pieces of wisdom passed on to me and one of the core tenets of my attitude toward life and my work helping my clients implement more fun and playfulness in their own lives. It truly is a life-changer that is a portal to all of the internal and external successes we desire. - Christine Meyer, Christine Meyer Coaching
9. You Add The Most Value By Saying Nothing
Coaching is about giving a person a safe and dedicated space to think, reflect, feel and discover. It’s not about giving the best advice or knowing a great new tool—it’s about letting go of needing to “be the expert” so that the true wisdom from within the client can emerge. Your presence is enough—stop trying to overdeliver! - Lisa Christen, Christen Coaching & Consulting LLC
10. Success Comes From Mastering The Mundane
The most valuable lesson, in my experience, was the significance of tackling even the most mundane tasks with dedication and effort. Success comes from mastery; mastery comes from doing the same things, day in and day out. It might sound boring because it is, but this belief guides my approach every day and has helped me achieve my goals. - Ryan Stewman, Break Free Academy
11. Celebrate Your Wins
One of my top five strengths is Achiever, which means that I wake up every day feeling as if I’m starting at zero. While being an Achiever has certainly helped me lead the growth of our firm, I can overapply it to the point of burnout. “Celebrate our victories” is embedded into our scorecard to remind me to stop, reflect and acknowledge our accomplishments as a team. - Sheri Nasim, Center for Executive Excellence
12. Finding Forgiveness Helps You Heal
Whether they occur through microaggressions or outright misogyny, I have found that forgiveness is the best way for me to move on from traumatic events in my personal or professional life. As much as I would like to hold others responsible for these offenses, finding forgiveness is a gift and the best way for me to heal and move forward. - Kelly Huang, Coach Kelly Huang
13. Question Self-Imposed Limited Beliefs
I once shared a business idea with a coach and, without realizing it, I added, “But that’s not possible.” She quickly replied, “Really?” With that single word, she challenged my self-imposed limited belief and invited me to consider creative solutions, which ultimately led me to outstanding results. I now help business leaders challenge their own mindsets to break through their self-limitations. - Vered Kogan, Momentum Institute
14. People Are Drowning In Information And Craving Transformation
Thanks to technology, information is readily available to almost anyone. However, the real value is in how coaches connect the dots and speed up the process of leveling up for clients so that they do not waste time, money and energy on things that do not get them the best return on investment. - Csaba Toth, ICQ Global
15. Focus Your Energy On Your Opportunities, Not Your Problems
The brain has a natural tendency to focus on problems and treats them as threats that need to be dealt with to ensure survival. As a leader, you want to focus more on future opportunities than potential problems. - Katharina Schmidt, Inspiration & Discipline
