I am offering free coaching sessions while enrolled in a life coaching training program. This way, I can practice skills and benefit the client. But how to go about getting practice clients? The obvious choice would be to coach friends: I can take that action and ask them to be my client without discomfort.
However, coaching friends can be tricky. There may be discomfort on the part of the coach to push the client to action. There may be discomfort on the part of the client to reveal previously hidden aspects of their life. In addition, the motivation to sign up for coaching must be a need for coaching. Signing up to help a friend who needs practice coaching diminishes the effectiveness of the coaching relationship.
So, I decided to approach colleagues, fellow students at the yoga studio, and place an advertisement on the neighborhood bulletin board. The first two approaches were easy. The post on the bulletin board? Not so easy. I felt uncomfortable and exposed. It took me a couple of days to “take action” and put myself “out there”. When I finally hit “Send”, I realized it was nothing at all. At best, I can help someone. At worst, they will read the post and move on.
To my delight, the morning after I posted the Ad, one of my neighbors contacted me. We had a phone call and our first coaching session is scheduled! Taking action despite the discomfort allowed me to move forward.