This is a guest post written by Sandeep Kulshrestha.

As a small business owners/coach, you need a system to work upon. Like any other system, a coaching system is a set of interdependent and interacting components, with each component acting as a unique organism of its own.

When we first start a new business our mind is juggling all of these exciting ideas about our coaching practice because it's something we are passionate about and the possibilities of what it could evolve into are endless.

However, when we have too many ideas we may struggle to develop and execute a coaching system that will be lucrative and manageable.

In this blog, I am attempting to share my thoughts, to shed some light on developing a coaching system in seven simple ways.

1. Create a simple blueprint and a business plan

In your coaching sessions, have you ever asked a client to do some visualization exercises at some point in time? Now it's time to take a page from your own book. Sit down with a pen and paper, take a deep breath and with your favorite beverage in hand, visualize and write down anything and everything that you envision for your business, such as how much you want to earn in a year, the number of clients you wish to have and just about anything that comes to your mind.

Start with writing some post-it notes, take your time and create something which reflects your way of thinking. Business planning is not rocket science. There are many templates available online to help you create a business plan. 

2. Write a detailed vision statement

The vision statement usually is a short statement that outlines what would like to achieve or accomplish in the mid-term or long-term future of your coaching business. While they are typically a short paragraph, it may be better to create a longer, more detailed vision statement - at least to start.

It should be all about your feelings, your passion, your calling. In my own experience as a coach, this helps in creating a coaching system. It can start with a thought like “Today when I write my vision statement, I imagine myself in a space of rejoice and compassion” and you can surely built it forward.

3. Create a niche

Coaches work with their clients to support their efforts to bring intentional change. But it is a big world. There are sales coaches, nonprofit leadership coaches, coaches for entrepreneurs, for stay-at-home moms and so on.

Write down 10 categories of clients you want to have and eliminate seven to get the final three. You can experiment with this niche for a month or a quarter and modify/change as necessary. Making sure that in the next quarter, you will only work with niche clients will go a long way in establishing yourself as a fantastic coach.

4. Be visible as a coach

Visibility is just not a marketing technique but it is more about reaching out to a wider, global audience and understanding their perspective. For example, you share some of your thoughts on a blogging/microblogging platform and you get feedback from people who read your post. Such feedback enhances your wisdom and some ideas can surely fine tune your way of thinking. Connecting to other coaches also helps in your own visibility, so expand your network by attending events, joining groups on LinkedIn and showing interest in the conversations happening in the industry.

5. Have a coaching structure

Having a coaching structure is like a standard operating procedure. You need to figure out that how many coaching sessions are needed with a client, spread out in how many weeks and how many hours per session and how much you will charge. You can also supplement this with content of specific coaching sessions (would the questions be different in the first or last sessions, for example). A structure can be tweaked based on your own intelligence that you will gather as you become more wise and experienced.

6. Utilize your resources on coach directories

Again, you want to create visibility for you and your coaching brand and online directories are a great way to do that. Noomii has many resources, including the Coach Marketing Bootcamp, but many coaches don't utilize them fully for shortage of time. As a solopreneur, you should take advantage of all of the help you can get. You are more likely to succeed if resources are explored, utilized and adapted to help you create a truly great coaching system.

7. Have an interactive website

An interactive, SEO optimized website is important for any online business and is a good marketing tool as well. You can offer some valuable white papers/eBooks for free with sign-up to your newsletter, for example, so you create a customer database. Some coaches offer free courses as well. Through the website, you can also include information for visitors to sign up for a free coaching session with you. You also want to have a blog on your website, to share your thoughts, perspectives and experiences and etablish yourself as a thought leader in the industry.

There are many ways a coaching system can be developed and the above seven points work as a quick guide, based on my understanding and experience as a coach.

About Sandeep Kulshrestha

Sandeep Kulshrestha is the Founder and CEO of Rectangle Consulting, an Executive Coaching and Learning facilitation firm and of Flourishing Happiness Center, a Coach Training Academy, based in India. He blogs at positivepsychologyindia.org and godaddy.com and is a Positive Psychology practitioner. Connect with him on Twitter.

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