{"id":25196,"date":"2025-11-01T07:00:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T11:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/?p=25196"},"modified":"2025-10-29T15:40:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T19:40:45","slug":"why-coaches-need-other-coaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/blog\/why-coaches-need-other-coaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Coaches Need Other Coaches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Setting the Foundation<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re learning about the field of coaching while simultaneously building a coaching practice, the advice comes at you from all angles. \u201cGrow your network!\u201d some insist. \u201cBuild your following!\u201d \u201cGet visible!\u201d \u201cFocus on your target audience!\u201d\u00a0 And yes, client acquisition matters. But somewhere in all that urgency to build a business, my hope is that new coaches don\u2019t miss something I think is crucial: making authentic connections with other coaches. Your coaching colleagues are a big part of what you need to thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n

I started my coach education with the expectation that I would learn with a group of individuals there for training. Everyone would develop their <\/span>coaching skills<\/span><\/a> and walk away to apply what they learned at their jobs or in their new ventures. What I discovered instead was something far richer; I was surrounded by people who were genuinely interested in growing together and building relationships that would last well beyond the completion of our program.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the time I started my coaching journey, I recognized that by shifting careers and becoming an entrepreneur, I was entering into a world full of unknowns, but also a space with incredible opportunities. My peers and I were trying to build something new and were eager to learn how to create thriving coaching practices that would deliver on the fulfillment we longed for.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is what I found: there was not one piece of advice that we could all apply identically to our unique visions for our coaching practices. The guidance of our training was valuable, but we needed time and space outside of class to process and synthesize the information we learned. I quickly learned that I needed to be in community with both experienced coaches and those who were right there at the starting line with me. I needed both wisdom and shared curiosity \u2014 the proven strategies and the new and innovative approaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Power of Community<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

What made all the difference was having an instructor\/mentor who didn\u2019t just teach and then let us figure things out. My <\/span>mentor coach<\/span><\/a> made herself available and invested deeply in each person. We have maintained that relationship as colleagues and people who mention one another\u2019s names in rooms where the other is not present. It is a relationship of respect and admiration. She modeled what an authentic coach-to-coach connection looks like. I can only hope that my students regard me similarly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having experienced coaches in my network provided support in strengthening my practice with ideas and resources. They modeled the coaching competencies in action and provided the kind of encouragement that only comes from someone who\u2019s been there.\u00a0 They consistently challenged me to stretch beyond my comfort zone and encouraged me to expand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Connecting with peers who were also at the starting line, however, was a gift in a different package! They became my accountability partners as we each worked to launch our businesses. They were fellow learners and practice partners, always ready to explore and experiment. My peers had the time and fresh curiosity to wrestle with big questions and off-the-cuff ideas with me. We found time to both collaborate and connect. We shared feedback on ideas, dove deep into coaching topics, and coached one another through times of uncertainty. Most importantly, we celebrated our incremental wins together.<\/span><\/p>\n

The full circle moment came when one of my classmates recruited me to join her as an adjunct professor at the Townsend Institute to partner in the honorable work of developing new coaches. To be seen so clearly and to be trusted with shaping other coaches was both an honor and a testament to the ripple effect of authentic coach-to-coach connections.<\/span><\/p>\n

In my opinion, if you are a coach who focuses exclusively on attracting clients and the work, you may be missing out on a beautiful opportunity to flourish. The coaching community is filled with some of the most fascinating and thoughtful people you will ever meet. Slowing down and taking the time to genuinely know other coaches has enriched my practice, offered new friendships, kept me learning and growing, given me opportunities to invest in others beyond my clients, and helped me combat the loneliness that comes with entrepreneurship.<\/span><\/p>\n

An Open Invitation<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

I invite you to slow down and embrace the relational benefits of the profession you have chosen. Get to know other coaches for who they are. This is not a traditional corporate environment where people lead with \u201cI don\u2019t go to work to make friends.\u201d It is perfectly OK to go to work and discover genuine friendships and partnerships along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Simple Ways to Stay Connected<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Some approaches that have served me well:<\/span><\/p>\n