Coachability, before any entrepreneur can start their marketing, they have to get clear on who they serve – their target audience. The same goes for coaches.
However, there comes a time in every coach’s career when they encounter a client that seems completely “uncoachable.”
As a result, they take up all your time and energy, with no concrete results to show for it, leaving you feeling like a failure and eventually building up resentment.
This raises the question: are all clients coachable? The answer would be no. One would think so, but the fact is that not everyone is prepared for the challenging processes involved in making a change.
And for new coaches, these uncoachable clients may not be easy to identify.
Rather than trying to change someone who is not ready to be coached, you’re better off learning how to determine if a prospect is coachable before they ever become a client.
Here are some signs to look for in people to ensure they are ready to work with a coach.
Related: 10 Self-Development Tips for New Coaches
Coachability | 5 Ways to Know How Coachable Are Your Clients & Red Flags
They’re Open to New Perspectives
Coachable clients know that they have blind spots. They may not know what they are yet, but they’re curious and willing to explore it.
Even if there’s a little resistance, in the beginning, these clients enjoy the process of partnering with someone and looking for new ways to solve their problems.
Coachability Means They’re Committed to Change
There’s a desire for more in life. They see the gap between where they are and where they want to be. And they’re prepared to take action, even if the journey hurts. They need guidance from a great coach.
Client Coachability Must Have Some Level of Self-Awareness
Most coachable clients can self-reflect and are willing to engage in topics that might be uncomfortable.
In addition, they desire to be intentional in how they live, work, and lead, making it easier to get to the bottom of the beliefs and perspectives holding them back.
They Engage in Your Coaching Process
Clients need to take observable action. Client coachability must be willing to see the progress and not just focus on the wins or losses. The coaching process will just as energize a coachable person as you are.
They Can Look in the Mirror
For clients to benefit from coaching, they must be willing to look at themselves, including their thoughts, beliefs, and actions.
They also take coachability and accountability for what they take away from each coaching session, putting what they learned into action and preparing for the next.
Now that you know what to look for in coachable people, let’s examine what to look for in people that are not coachable.
Coachability | What Are the Red Flags?
You know a client is uncoachable when they show these signs:
- They are not willing to look at themselves
- They don’t own up to their mistakes
- They aren’t willing to be vulnerable
- They don’t take action
- They don’t respect your boundaries as a coach
- They confuse you for a therapist
- They want you to give them the answers
A client who is uncoachable right now may become coachable later. Until then, coachability is important to keep an eye out for and realize it would not be a mutually beneficial relationship to take them on now.
The more experience you gain, the faster you’ll be able to pick up the signs and determine whether or not a prospect is coachable.
To your success,
Coach Cheryl Thacker