This is a guest blog post written by Terry Sidhu. Want to contribute? Check out the 2016 publishing calendar.

When I began coaching, I hadn’t expected to fall in love with helping people. I think many of you reading this post would appreciate that it’s difficult to put into words, the feeling of positively impacting someone’s life. Transforming the way people connect to their own lives, helping them realize their potential and shifting perspectives from “I cannot.” to “I can!” definitely leaves a heartening impression on our own self-worth.

Back in 2013 when I secured my first client, I felt pressured to present an image that my life was perfect. We’re proclaimed to be “experts on life” and I felt the need to present an image that I had always lived life blissfully, and I’d always made the right choices. This obviously isn’t accurate - We’re people too, and like our clients we experience our own problems and make our own mistakes. Contrary to popular belief, I’ve found that sharing my experiences publicly on my blog and opening up about the lessons I’ve learned has enhanced my value as a coach and strengthened my bonds with clients.

Let your clients into your life a little

I wrote a post last April called “Stay Awake With Me,” which was about maintaining awareness and not letting our minds wander into “non-existent moments in time.” Essentially, to be mindful of now and to not let the difficulties of our past, or the uncertainties of our future, guide our lives. I gave my readers a small window into my life and it opened up the door to an intimate coaching experience with my clients. The blog post was generally well-received and I secured a booking from it. And when existing clients began connecting their lives to my experiences, I began to truly see the value of being a coach. I felt it was the first time my clients viewed me as someone that could really help, rather than someone hired simply for guidance or advice.

I understand why therapists and counsellors must maintain some distance and separation to help their clients and feel they often adopt more of a top-down approach. Whereas coaches, we’re right by our clients’ side and the support is a very personal experience. We’re holding their hands and supporting their mindsets as we guide their lives to new heights. We’re invited into their lives and they spark our own emotions just as much as we were hired to ignite theirs. Therefore, we must be mindful of our connection to our clients.

But don’t share too much

I’m careful not to share the exact details of my life, but I share enough to raise questions and open discussions. For example, my post titled “Sex and Its Impact on Success.” Although I didn’t go into detail about my personal life, I shared enough of the emotional experience of sex and love that it encouraged my relationship clients to communicate more openly. They tell me that it’s comforting to know that they’re not alone and I’m just like them. I think it instills confidence within themselves and trust that I can do the job.

We connect with our clients on an innate human level, yet we still have to distinguish our roles in order to maintain an objective lens and do what we’re hired to do. Although blogging is a great way to connect, we’re still faced with our ethical and professional responsibilities. Therefore we must keep some details of our private lives back. I may not be the best writer, but I’m becoming well practised on getting the message across with the right amount of personal detail. Generally, I write about a moment in my past in a manner that is open to interpretation. For example, in my post titled “Relationship Advice,” I write from an incredibly personal point of view, as if I’m giving advice to my future grandchildren. I always find that this approach is the easiest way to share a poignant personal experience, without necessarily sharing the intimate details.

Coaching helps people self-realize. As our clients progress, increasing self-awareness and recognizing themselves as empowered individuals, they’re encouraged to expand their zones of comfort. As a result, I’ve noticed clients become more inquisitive and eager to learn more about us as people. I find blogging has helped my clients satisfy a lot of that curiosity. As well, my blog acts like a free-to-access toolbox for clients and potential clients alike, who can refer to it for advice whenever I’m unavailable or unaffordable.

I’m sure many of you will agree that doubt and uncertainty tend to surface throughout our lives and careers. I also consider sharing these present experiences and lessons to be an integral part of my business. I feel that each blog post increases my authenticity and demonstrates that while we all have our own individual journeys and challenges to face, we don’t have to face them alone.

Develop a niche and expand your reach

Unbeknownst to me, when I shared my first blog post on relationships, my career in relationship coaching began. One of the most vital tools I learnt through blogging was how to communicate with my market and develop my niche. Blogging has become an invaluable marketing tool that underlies my coaching success, increasing my value as I share more content. As I monitor which blog posts receive the most traffic, I learn that my expertise is in relationships and strengthening mindsets. This information continues to help me carve out and secure my market. It even helps me to sift through Noomii Referrals to find my ideal clients.

Finally, each post has the potential to expand my reach and connect with people all over the world. When my content gets shared on social media, so, too, do my services, as each blog post is linked directly to my coaching website. Hence, blogging, like my profile on Noomii, has become a fundamental resource for finding new clients in a growing global community and a vast digital world. If you’re aiming for “Coaching Nirvana” as Stephan Wiedner, Founder and COO of Noomii puts it, then you need to stand out and be seen. Be authentic, share your journey, and unlock its value.

About Terry Sidhu

Terry Sidhu is a relationship, life and family coach with an advanced level diploma in psychology, based out of Vancouver, BC. You can connect with Terry through Noomii, his website The Lions Life Blog, Facebook and Twitter.

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