Success Advice
5 Reasons Why Most Life and Business Coaches Fail
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.
Success Advice
25 Leadership Lessons That Will Make You a Smarter, Stronger Leader
It blends emotional intelligence with strategic thinking, people skills with performance metrics, and empathy with execution.

Leadership is not just a role; it’s a continuous journey of growth, reflection, and service. While personal experience shapes much of that journey, the wisest leaders learn from the triumphs and missteps of those who walked before them. (more…)
Entrepreneurs
Why Passion, Not Profit, Builds the Most Successful Businesses
While the dream is grand, the journey comes with real challenges, risks, uncertainty, and setbacks that test your resilience

Entrepreneurship excites many. The idea of being your own boss, building something meaningful, and breaking free from the 9-to-5 grind is incredibly appealing. (more…)
Success Advice
The Modern Blueprint for Success: Mastery, Purpose, and High-Income Skills
If your current path feels empty, maybe it’s time to aim for something more meaningful
Success Advice
The 70-Year-Old Management Strategy That’s More Relevant Than Ever
It emphasizes setting clear, measurable goals that align employee efforts with broader company objectives

Every organization has its own vision and mission. But a vision is only as powerful as the people behind it. When employees are actively involved in decision-making and goal-setting, that vision becomes a shared reality. (more…)
-
Life1 week ago
How to Stop the War in Your Head and Find Peace
-
Change Your Mindset4 weeks ago
The Leadership Skill Nobody Talks About (But Changes Everything)
-
Change Your Mindset4 weeks ago
Peter Drucker’s Life Lessons Every Leader Needs to Hear
-
Explode Your Social Media4 weeks ago
Want More Views? Master These 6 YouTube Growth Tactics
-
Did You Know4 weeks ago
This One Proxy Mistake Could Be Slowing Down Your Entire Operation
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
The 70-Year-Old Management Strategy That’s More Relevant Than Ever
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
The Modern Blueprint for Success: Mastery, Purpose, and High-Income Skills
-
Entrepreneurs2 weeks ago
Why Passion, Not Profit, Builds the Most Successful Businesses
1 Comment