And what we learned on how to pivot successfully as a Coach
It can be difficult to pivot successfully, change niche or our approach as a Coach… We are often so passionate about our work and have a strong desire to help our clients succeed and this can make it difficult for us to change.
So when we feel stuck or not progressing as we wanted, it’s hard for us to step back and understand that maybe it’s really time to pivot. We get attached to a product or type of client, and it’s hard to let them go. Here are some of the things that as a Coach you may face, and that we faced multiple times during our 3 years of Entrepreneurship:
- Fear of the unknown. Pivoting to a new niche or approach can feel like starting over, we were afraid of losing existing clients, not finding new clients, or not being successful in our new niche.
- Investment in our previous niche. We invested a lot of time and money in building that part of our business. Building relationships, developing programs and resources, and creating a strong brand identity. It was so hard to let go of all the hard work.
- Self-doubt. Are we going to be successful in the new space? Do we have the right skills and knowledge for the new niche?
- Attachment. Being attached to what we have built, not wanting to let it go and start over.
Despite these challenges, pivoting can be a great way for coaches to grow their businesses and reach more people. As you evolve and grow as a Coach, your business and coaching will shift, evolve, change, and that’s not only ok, but necessary for you to thrive.
If you are a Coach and you’re considering pivoting, keep reading.
Pivoting can be a big decision, but it can also be a rewarding one. We started with a coaching platform, shifted to a training program run as a cohort, made that self-paced and pivoted again to providing affordable Coaching Services to Companies and then adding a new program focused on helping Newly Certified Coaches kick-start their coaching business.
If you’re considering how to successfully pivot as a Coach…
… here is what we learned:
- First, start by defining your goals. Don’t pivot for the sake of pivoting, it won’t work and you will feel frustrated. Pivot if you have a clear goal in mind. What do you hope to achieve by pivoting? Is it more clients? Less time per client? More freedom? Once you know your goals you can develop a plan to achieve them.
- Research your new niche. If you want to pivot, you need to do market research for your new target audience and their needs, you can’t just think you know your new niche. What are their pain points? What are their goals? How can you help them achieve those goals?
- Re-evaluate your skills. You’ve grown and built new skills, you’ve gained new knowledge. How can you use those better? Who can benefit the most from the things you learned? Don’t waste your hard earned and learned new skills!
- Start building relationships. Connect with other coaches and professionals in the niche, don’t be afraid of the competition and build solid collaborations, in other words, help each-other. Attend industry events and participate in online communities.
- Create a plan to transition to your new niche. Depending on the niche, you may be developing new programs and resources, updating your website and marketing materials, and letting your existing clients know about your new direction, and who knows, they may even stick with you!
- Be patient. It takes time to pivot successfully. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep working hard and providing excellent services to your clients.
If you are considering pivoting, we suggest starting from the basics again. Who do you want to work with? Once you know that, build your crystal clear message for them.
