The Coaching Academy Blog

As a change to our regular “Coach In The Spotlight” feature, we have this week put Coaching Academy Youth Impact Coaching Diploma trainer, Fred Pink in the hot seat and asked some quick fire questions:-

My best advice for marketing a coaching business is:

Be absolutely clear about who might need you, what you have in particular that they might need, where you can find them and how you can get to them – ie basic marketing principles.

My favourite self development book is:

Getting honest feedback from wife, friends, colleagues, customers, coaches. Most self-development books are not worth the money or time to read them.

The most inspiring speaker I’ve ever heard is:

Jim Collins.

If I were alone on a desert island I would need to have (three necessities that don’t include family, pets or friends) with me:

Bible, solar electricity generator for the i-Touch with my music collection.

People probably don’t know I:

…..that would be telling!

My favourite place in the world is?

Wherever my wife is, so that is frequently at home.

The most unusual thing I have ever done is?

I am pretty conservative so I don’t do unusual.

My definition of success is?

The look on a coachee’s face when they have unlocked a door that allows them to take a step, or steps, towards their goal

My favourite coaching questions is?

“How come?”

The question that often elicits a break through (aha) moment is?

“Think back to a similar situation when you succeeded in resolving a problem similar to the one we are discussing. What did you think/say/do?”

What advice would you give for dealing with a challenging coaching situation?

Listen, summarise, question, listen……..until you have helped the other person find a way forward. What NOT to do? Try and solve the dilemma yourself.

What is your top selling business tip?

Find out what they need rather than focusing on what you have to sell. If you can meet their need, you may have a sale. If not, you definitely will not have a sale

What hot tip would you recommend to make attending a networking event successful?

Be very selective. Most are a dreadful waste of time.

What do you love most about coaching/training people to be coaches?

I have over 40 years’ experience as a professional, manager, director, trainer, consultant, coach and I love giving other people the benefit of what I have learned so that, hopefully, they make fewer mistakes than I have made and achieve more than I have achieved.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting a coaching business?

It takes longer than you think so make sure you have the financial wherewithal to keep you going for 12-18 months. If you have other work that you can do at the same time, don’t give it up.