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5 Reasons Why Most Life and Business Coaches Fail

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Over the last few years, I’ve had the incredible privilege to travel all over the world speaking to amazing organizations and people. Whether I’m speaking to a group of BNI networkers or a 1,000+ audience at a national convention, wherever I go there always seems to be other coaches in attendance. The most common seem to be a life coach, health coach, or business executive coach. Regardless of what “type” of coach they are, there are some very similar patterns that you see in the ones who are unbelievably successful and clearly defined patterns in the ones you see that are struggling immensely. Struggling not only to stay congruent with the message they teach and tools they share with their clients, but also struggling financially and in their business.

Most coaches have huge hearts and really want to make a valuable difference in their clients lives, yet can only seem to get a few clients at a time. They spend their days reading and learning as much information as they possibly can. They attend tons of events, webinars and seminars focused on learning great information to share with their clients. If this sounds all too familiar, my goal is to help you become the best coach you can be, so please take note of these 5 reasons why most life and business coaches fail:

 

1. Jack of All Trades, Not a Master of One

This one is a real doozy. The coach who is pretty good a lot of different things and is so excited to share their knowledge with their clients, yet fails miserably to differentiate themselves because they are, frankly, a dime a dozen. The best thing you could do as a coach, for your coaching business your clients, is to pick a maximum of 3, very specific topics to coach on.

If you’re a life coach, what specific part of life will you focus on? The more targeted and focused you are, the more focused your clients will be, and the better results you’ll and your clients will see.

 

2. One Approach

We’ve all heard the phrase “it’s like beating a dead horse“. If you’re not getting through to your coaching clients, it’s not them, it’s YOU. When you have only one approach your level of influence will suffer tremendously and neither you, nor your clients, will see results. Having only one approach is like driving down a dead-end road, it’s unlikely you’ll ever reach your destination.

Just because one approach or strategy worked for you before, it does not mean it’ll work every time. To learn about strategic intervention and the ability to create lasting change check out the Robbins-Madanes Training For Strategic Intervention.

 

3. You Put Your Motives First

This one actually saddens me to hear. As a business or life coach, it is imperative that you focus on what your coaching clients want and need, NOT what you want. Your motives should ONLY be their motives. The second you prioritize what you think is important versus what your coaching client thinks is important, you have failed tremendously. Their needs always come before your needs (This goes for any relationship you want to last).

 

4. It’s Not About Motivation

Just because you are able to get people fired up, doesn’t mean you’re a great coach. In fact the mere definition of motivate is to give someone a motive to do something. That does not mean they’ll actually do it. Most any coach can give great strategies. The difference in going from good to great in coaching is getting your clients to actually take action. It’s not about being a great motivator. it’s about being a powerful influencer. Once you’ve mastered the art of influence, you’ll be able to do more than give strategies, you’ll actually have an effect on your clients which makes them want to take action.

A personal favorite, and valuable resource on this topic is the book Influence by PhD Robert B. Cialdini.

 

5. You don’t LIVE IT

Time and time again, I hear “I love that you’re actually LIVING what you teach.” I mean, why on Earth would you coach someone on something you don’t, or wouldn’t do, yourself. People can smell bull dung from a mile away. If you want to be the best business or life coach in the industry, you need to do more than just learn and give your knowledge. You need to start living it! I recently gave a TEDx talk on my philosophy of “Learn It. LIVE it. Give it“, a simple formula to help inspire the world. It’s gives insight into why so many people truly haven’t reached their potential in life and business and inspires them to take action. I hope it does the same for you and your coaching business.

 

Checkout JairekRobbins.com

This article originally appeared here.

Jairek Robbins is a man on a mission focused on developing creative solutions for accelerating results. By evaluating you and your companies strategic objectives, Jairek is able to build a customized roadmap for you to achieve your goals with speed and precision. Follow Jairek Robbins on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JairekRobbins

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Success Advice

What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

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Image Credit: Midjourney

When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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entrepreneurial leadership skills and traits
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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

Building a Business Empire: Lessons from the World’s Boldest Entrepreneurs

Learn essential lessons, success strategies, and mindset shifts every aspiring entrepreneur needs to overcome challenges and build a thriving business.

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how to build a business empire
Image Credit: Midjourney

Back in July 2017, I attended a business seminar on entrepreneurship in India. With my appetite for learning and meeting new people, I wanted to explore the latest developments in the entrepreneurial world. (more…)

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