ProAdvisorCoach

  Most strategy sessions fail before they even begin.  We walk into the room with spreadsheets, revenue targets, and a list of things we want to change, but we often overlook the very thing that drives the results—our thinking. If you are preparing to map out your next quarter or year, stop focusing on the "what" for a moment and ask these three questions to ensure your plan actually moves the needle. 1. Is this strategy built on “Shoulds” or “Wants”? It is easy to build a plan based on what the industry expects or what you think a successful company should look like. But if the strategy isn't aligned with your actual internal drivers, you will eventually find yourself resisting your own plan. When a goal is a "should," it feels like pushing a string up a hill. When it’s a "want," you find the natural flow. Before you commit to a direction, ask if it truly aligns with your purpose and your "Sweet Spot," or if you are simply performing a role....

PART 1 OF A 3-PART SERIES ON OVERCOMING THE TYRANNY OF THE URGENT Imagine Sarah, a CEO known for her relentless work ethic. She arrives early on a Monday, ahead of the workday, ready to start drafting the company's new enterprise-wide operational framework, a strategic roadmap guiding her company’s 5-year growth. But before she even opens the file, an email pops up: "URGENT: Major Client X Issue." The strategic roadmap is pushed aside, Sarah dives into the problem, and four hours later Sarah she realizes she's spent the entire morning troubleshooting something that probably could have been solved by a mid-level manager. By the time the fire is out, it's noon. She feels a rush of self-satisfaction for "saving the day," but she’s exhausted, she hasn't gotten done what she'd planned to do, and she moves her strategic work to an evening slot that she knows when she schedules will likely never materialize. Sarah is not ineffective—she’s trapped. This ...

In this first of three articles on building a coaching clientele, ProAdvisorCoach Linda Huary addresses a critical question for new coaches: why is it so challenging to land clients? She breaks down the key factors that stand between your expertise and a client's trust, from a crowded market to a lack of awareness. Attracting coaching clients —especially as an executive or leadership coach—can be challenging for several reasons, even for highly qualified professionals. Here are the key factors that often make it hard: 1. Coaching Is a Trust-Based Purchase Coaching is personal and transformational. Clients need to trust that you deeply understand their challenges before they will invest. This trust typically develops over time—through content, referrals, or direct interactions—not just from a single pitch or website visit. 2. Low Awareness of Need Many potential clients don’t know they need a coach. Executives may not see their blind spots or believe they can self-correct. Until a...