AI Coaching is Closer Than You Think

If you're a coach relying on platforms like Ezra, BetterUp, Lyra, or CoachHub for clients, this episode is a crucial wake-up call. Sarah breaks down groundbreaking research proving AI coaching isn't some distant possibility – it's happening now and performing at surprisingly high levels.

The Game-Changing Research

A new study in Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice examined whether AI coaching agents could meet professional human coach standards. The results should get every platform-dependent coach's attention.

Researchers used AI agents supported by human experts in a "Wizard of Oz" setup and found striking results:

Active Listening: AI showed strong capability, with clients feeling genuinely heard and understood.

Powerful Questioning: Observers noted AI-generated questions effectively helped clients reflect and gain insights.

Client Experience: Clients said AI sessions felt like real coaching and helped them progress toward goals.

Most significantly, observers rated one AI session as demonstrating competencies "comparable to a credentialed coach." This isn't theory – it's reality.

The Platform Threat

For platform-dependent coaches, this research reveals an uncomfortable business truth. AI coaching offers platforms the perfect solution:

• No Labor Costs: AI doesn't need payment, supervision, or management
• 24/7 Availability: No breaks, vacations, or time off needed
• Unlimited Scalability: One system handles countless clients simultaneously
• Consistent Quality: Standardised performance without human variability

Platforms already treat coaching as a commodity, controlling pricing and client acquisition while coaches deliver assigned sessions. When AI can provide "good enough" coaching at zero ongoing cost, human coaches become expendable.

The Commoditization Reality

Platform coaches already experience limited control – you don't set fees, pricing, or acquire clients. Your income depends entirely on platform decisions. Add AI into this equation, and fewer opportunities will exist as platforms prioritise cheaper, scalable AI solutions.

Your Lifeline: Micro Niches

The solution lies entirely within your control. Platforms want scale – serving massive audiences cost-effectively. They have zero interest in small, tightly defined micro niches, and that's your opportunity.

While micro niches seem less exciting than global platform reach, they offer something more valuable: stable, profitable, sustainable income that you control.

Why Micro Niches Work

Well-chosen micro niches enable six-figure or multiple six-figure businesses over time. This creates something AI can't replicate: deep understanding of specific challenges, personal trust-based relationships, and specialized expertise from focused practice.

Act Now, Not Later

AI coaching is already here, performing at professional levels. The question isn't whether this impacts coaching, but whether you'll wait for AI to replace you or build an AI-proof business now.

With clear niche focus and solid client acquisition strategy, your coaching future can be secure and prosperous. Stop depending on platforms and start building something you control.

Ready to future-proof your coaching business?Visit thecoachingrevolution.com and click "Book a Call" to discuss how this works in practice.

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What does it really take to transition from corporate success to a thriving coaching business? Antonia Watson's journey reveals the surprising gap most newly qualified coaches don't see coming.

The Monday Morning Reality

After 20+ years in tech consulting as COO and Global Head of Workforce Strategy, Antonia discovered coaching during a post-pandemic career break. She loved her training at Henley Business School and felt confident in her coaching abilities. Then Monday morning arrived: "I need paying clients. Now what?"

Despite her corporate background, Antonia discovered that marketing a global consultancy bears no resemblance to marketing yourself as a coach. She tried online research and mentoring, but was missing the practical steps to actually implement what she was learning.

The Game-Changing Question

Everything shifted during Sarah's Nail Your Niche Challenge with one powerful insight: "It's one thing identifying your ideal client, but how are you going to find them on LinkedIn?"

This exposed her fundamental flaw – starting too broadly with "I'll coach professional women." You can't find all professional women on LinkedIn and message them personally. The practicality simply doesn't work.

Going Deep for Real Results

Antonia learned that effective marketing requires understanding your ideal client at an impossible depth. She now works specifically with senior women in STEM navigating change who want to advance their careers with clarity and confidence.

This specificity transformed everything. She developed structured daily LinkedIn content, runs targeted webinars, built her website, and works with both individual and corporate clients. Many come from her former network who now understand exactly how she helps.

The Unexpected Truth

Building her coaching business became as much personal development as her coaching training. The skills are completely complementary – the deeper she understands her ideal client for marketing, the better coach she becomes.

Through the Coaching Revolution's Advance Programme, Antonia gained practical tools from proposal writing to client sequences. The supportive community provides ongoing collaboration without competition, since everyone serves different niches.

Her transformation from a qualified coach wondering "what now?" to confidently building a thriving business proves that with practical guidance and community support, the gap between qualification and success can be bridged.

Ready to Nail Your Niche?

Join Sarah's Nail Your Niche Challenge – the only challenge designed specifically for qualified coaches who want to stop marketing to everyone and start attracting ideal clients.

🎯 ⁠Register for Nail Your Niche Challenge⁠

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The Hard Truth Sarah Drops in This Episode

If you're posting inspirational quotes and calling it marketing... stop. That's not marketing, that's just posting. And there's a big difference.

The brutal reality: 82% of coaching businesses fail because their owners don't know how to find paying clients. But here's the thing – it's not your fault.

Why Most Coaches Struggle (Spoiler: It's Not What You Think)

Your coaching school taught you how to coach, not how to run a business. Sound familiar?

The fantasy vs. reality:

• What you thought: "Coaching is my superpower! People will see what I do and come running!"
• What actually happened: Crickets

The problem: Your potential clients don't even know you exist. Worse? They don't know they need a coach – they're too busy struggling with their problem.

The Thoughts Sabotaging Your Success

Sarah calls out the mental blocks every coach has (yes, even you):

✗ "I don't want to be salesy"✗ "I'm terrible at promoting myself"✗ "Maybe I need more qualifications first"✗ "Marketing feels inauthentic"

Reality check: You're not bad at marketing. You just haven't learned how to market yet.

The Elephant in the Room: You Can't Market to Everyone

The uncomfortable truth: When you try to appeal to everyone, you end up appealing to no one.

Why this happens: Your message becomes so broad and vague that it floats past the people who desperately need your help.

The Niche "Problem" That Isn't Actually a Problem

What coaches think: "If I choose a niche, won't I limit myself and get bored?"

The reality: Choosing a niche isn't about saying no to variety – it's about saying yes to focus.

Your clients aren't searching for "a coach." They're searching for someone who understands their specific problem.

The Power of Getting Specific (With Real Examples)

Instead of saying: "I help people with their careers" (boring, invisible)

Try this:

• "I help account managers in financial services land their second job after their first postgraduate role"
• "I help senior leaders in pharmaceuticals transition into a new career before retirement"
• "I help deputy heads who've lost their mojo rediscover their passion for work"

The result: Your potential client thinks, "That's me! That's my exact problem!"

Your Next Steps

Ready to stop spinning your wheels and start attracting clients who actually pay professional rates?

Stop doing this:

• Posting vague inspirational quotes
• Trying to appeal to everyone
• Waiting for more qualifications

Start doing this:

• Get crystal clear on who you help
• Speak directly to their specific problem
• Show them you understand their struggle

Ready to Nail Your Niche?

Join Sarah's Nail Your Niche Challenge – the only challenge designed specifically for qualified coaches who want to stop marketing to everyone and start attracting ideal clients.

🎯 Register for Nail Your Niche Challenge

Have you enjoyed this episode? 

Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

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In this eye-opening episode, Sarah exposes a troubling business model that's exploiting coaches in our industry. She reveals how one company is selling coaching services for just £49.99 for four hours of coaching per month (that's £12.50 per session!) while paying their coaches absolutely nothing.

This isn't pro bono work – it's exploitation disguised as "opportunity."

Key Points Discussed:

The Shocking Business Model:

• The Setup: A coaching company selling 4 hours of monthly coaching for £49.99 (including VAT)
• The Math: That's just £12.50 per hour session, or £10.42 without VAT
• The Reality: Coaches receive zero payment – not even an associate fee
• The Clients: Include household-name organisations that should know better

Why This Matters

• Professional Devaluation: When coaching costs "less than a pizza," it undermines the entire profession
• Exploitation of Vulnerability: Takes advantage of new coaches desperate to build hours for accreditation
• Market Impact: Organisations paying below minimum wage for professional services sets a dangerous precedent

The LinkedIn Poll Results

Sarah's community spoke loud and clear:

• 90% found the practice exploitative
• 5% deemed it acceptable
• 5% had other concerns

The Vulnerability Factor

Why do coaches fall for this? Sarah reveals the "dark underbelly" of our profession:

• Lack of Transparency: Coaching schools don't explain the scarcity of employed opportunities
• Missing Skills: New coaches aren't taught client acquisition – the essential complementary skillset
• False Expectations: Students expect clients to come easily post-certification
• Desperation: Struggling coaches become vulnerable to exploitation

The Bigger Picture

This isn't just about one company – it's part of a larger pattern of advantage-taking in the coaching industry, from:

• "Six figures in 90 days" charlatans charging tens of thousands
• Companies that promise to sell your coaching but never pay you

Sarah's Position

This is NOT pro bono coaching because:

• The client is paying
• The company is profiting
• Only the coaches work for free

True pro bono coaching:

• Serves those who couldn't otherwise afford coaching
• Should come after coaches have covered their financial bases
• Doesn't involve a middleman profiting from free labour

Discussion Questions

• How do we better prepare new coaches for the business realities of coaching?
• What responsibility do coaching schools have to set realistic expectations?
• How can we protect vulnerable coaches from exploitative practices?
• What constitutes fair compensation for professional coaching services?

Resources:

📖 Read the Original LinkedIn Post: Sarah's viral LinkedIn post that sparked this conversation

🎧 Related Episode: Listen to "Monetisable Credibility" to understand what gives coaches leverage in the marketplace

The Bottom Line

Professional coaches deserve professional rates. When we allow our services to be valued at "less than the cost of a pizza," we don't just hurt individual coaches – we damage the credibility and sustainability of our entire profession.

The coaching industry needs to have honest conversations about business realities, fair compensation, and protecting new coaches from exploitation.

What are your thoughts on this practice? Have you encountered similar situations in the coaching world? Share your experiences and join the conversation.

Stats That Matter:

• 13,500+ coaching sessions delivered unpaid through this one company
• £10.42 per hour – well below UK minimum wage
• 90% of respondents called it exploitative

Originally posted a year ago, this issue remains relevant as the coaching industry continues to grapple with fair compensation and professional standards.

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Listen to how one project manager transformed 14 years of corporate experience into a thriving coaching business - and why AI can't replace authentic marketing.

About The Episode:

Meet Andy Keneally, an Irish project manager turned successful business coach who spent 14 years managing massive projects across the globe - from Hong Kong to China to London. After feeling stuck at the senior level and wondering, "is this it?", Andy made the leap into coaching and discovered how to turn his corporate experience into his greatest business asset.

In this candid conversation, Andy shares his journey from complete beginner to landing corporate clients, the surprising truth about AI in marketing, and why community support became his secret weapon.

What You'll Learn:

The Power of Experience-Based Coaching

• Why coaching "a younger version of yourself" creates instant credibility
• How Andy identified project managers at career crossroads as his ideal clients
• The difference between having lived experience vs. having a "front row seat" to your audience's challenges

The Reality Check on AI and Marketing

• Why ChatGPT assumes every coach is a sports coach (spoiler: it happened to Sarah too!)
• The frustration of AI-generated content that "doesn't sound like you at all"
• Why LinkedIn is littered with obvious AI posts that make you feel like you know ChatGPT instead of the person
• The crucial difference between AI as a tool vs. AI as a thinking replacement

From Invisible to In-Demand

• How Andy went from unknown to having corporates reach out directly
• The simple strategy of being visible and speaking your audience's language
• Why "best kept secret" coaches can't earn a living

The Game-Changing Power of Community

• How Andy got 10+ expert responses to his pricing question in just one hour
• The difference between coaching communities and business-focused coaching communities
• Why working alone means "turning around to the dog" for advice (Andy's words, not ours!)

About The Guest:

Andy Keneally is a business coach specialising in helping project managers navigate career crossroads. After 14 years managing large-scale projects globally, including 2.5 years based in Hong Kong and China, Andy now helps senior project managers in London figure out their next career move while managing the unique stresses of their fast-paced profession.

Have you enjoyed this episode? 

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The One Question Every Coach Supervisor Dreads

If you’re a coach supervisor, you know the question. It comes up in almost every group session, especially with newer coaches, and it can bring the conversation to an awkward halt: “How do I find coaching clients?”.

This single question creates a ripple of discomfort. Is it even a topic for supervision? And if it is, how do you answer it, especially if your own path to getting clients isn't something others can easily replicate?.

In this episode, Sarah pulls back the curtain on this common challenge, looking at it from both sides of the telescope—for the coach who is desperate for an answer and the supervisor who feels stuck.

🔥 What You'll Discover in This Episode:

• A Coach's Vulnerability: When coaches have tried networking and discovery sessions with little success, they become vulnerable. This vulnerability is a magnet for predators and "charlatans" in the client acquisition space.

  
  

• The High Cost of Bad Advice: Desperate coaches have spent eye-watering amounts of money on promises that are too good to be true. Sarah shares stories of coaches who spent £10,000 on training with "literally nothing actionable" and others who were told to send 50 spammy DMs a week on LinkedIn, only to be met with hostile replies and told their "poor mindset" was the problem when they struggled.

  
  

• The Supervisor's Dilemma: The "how do I find clients" question is especially uncomfortable for supervisors whose own experience isn't repeatable. Perhaps you had a strong corporate network to tap into , or you built your hours through associate work , as an internal coach , or by coaching trainees at a school. Simply telling a new coach to "email everyone in their network" isn't helpful if their network looks nothing like yours did.

  
  

• A Radically Changed Landscape: The coaching world has seen a 54% increase in qualified coaches since 2019. As a result, finding associate work is incredibly difficult. Some platforms now have waiting lists for pro bono work, and others have turned away coaches with a PCC credential for not having enough experience.

  
  

Are you a coach supervisor struggling with this very issue?Sarah recorded a conversation with a group of supervisors discussing how they handle this exact challenge. If you'd like a copy of that recording, she is happy to share it with you.

Drop an email to:

[email protected] to request the video.

Have you enjoyed this episode? 

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You know that feeling when you found coaching?

That sense that you’ve finally discovered your "thing". The work that lights you up so much, it doesn't even feel like work. You know you're a good coach; your trainers and clients have told you so.

But here's the hard truth: being a good coach isn't enough to build a coaching business.

If you want to earn the fees you dreamed of at your coach training, you need to be able to find your own clients. In this episode, Sarah gets real about why great coaching skills alone won't pay the bills and dives into the minefield of marketing.

What You'll Discover in This Episode:

• The Expert Trap: Just as a Master Credentialed Coach (MCC) has over 2,500 hours of coaching experience, Sarah is a "Master Credentialed Marketer" with thousands of hours specialising in marketing for qualified coaches. She understands why you don't know whom to trust.

  
  

• Dodging the "Sleaze": We've all seen them—the slimy promises of "warm leads straight into our diaries" or "six figures in 90 days" that slide into our DMs. At The Coaching Revolution, the approach is different: straightforward, pragmatic, and honed for coaches, with no sleaze or uninvited DMs.

  
  

• Marketing Can Actually Be... Enjoyable? The process taught is designed to be comfortable, effective, ethical, and authentic. While new things are uncomfortable at first, the goal is to make marketing an enjoyable and creative habit.

  
  

• The Two Big Roadblocks (and How to Overcome Them): In a recent poll, coaches said the biggest things stopping them from learning to market were cost (48%) and not knowing who to trust (41%).

  
  

  • Is it too expensive? With options now starting from a £99 monthly membership, there are programs to suit all budgets. You may only need to sell four coaching packages to recoup the entire cost of the program.

    
    

  • Who can you trust? The Coaching Revolution is the only provider where all mentors are coaches who have been through the program and are actively and successfully marketing their own businesses right now. The testimonials on the website are all from real people who have been through the process.

    
    

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Ever feel like you’re shouting into the marketing void, trying to convince people they need a coach? What if we told you your biggest competition isn't other coaches at all?

In this episode, Sarah flips the script on everything you thought you knew about finding coaching clients. Get ready to stop competing and start connecting.

What You'll Discover in This Episode:

• The REAL Competition (It's Not Who You Think): Your actual competition is much closer to home: things like self-help books or a chat with a friend. Most people aren't shopping around for a coach because they don't yet understand what we do. This changes everything.

  
  

• The "Market to Everyone" Trap: You might be able to coach anyone, but you absolutely cannot market to everyone. If you’re at networking meetings saying you "help people reach their goals," you're likely falling into a client acquisition trap that just doesn't work well. All good marketing needs to be focused.

  
  

• Why Your "Wide Net" Has a Hole in It: Think you can market to "women aged 30 to 65?" Think again. A 30-year-old starting out and a 65-year-old nearing retirement are in completely different seasons of life. While both might need more confidence, the way that problem shows up in their lives is "utterly different," so the same marketing message will fall flat.

  
  

• The Secret to Finally Being Heard: The solution is to find "your tribe"—your perfect target audience or niche. You need to choose an audience you know well and can speak their language.

  
  

• Become Their Go-To Coach: When you can describe the problems your clients are facing using the exact words they use, you join the conversation already happening inside their heads. This is how you stop being just another coach and become the go-to authority for the people you're meant to serve.

  
  

Feeling a mix of "aha!" and "wait, what?" right now? That's a good thing. If you're ready to stop struggling and start building a real coaching business, Sarah wants to talk to you.

Have you enjoyed this episode? 

Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠⁠

Ever wonder why some coaches seem to effortlessly build successful practices while others struggle despite having the same skills and motivation? The answer might surprise you.

It's Not About Willpower

What looks like a lack of willpower is often something completely different. Coaches who appear to stick to good habits with ease aren't necessarily more disciplined – they're benefiting from something most coaches overlook entirely.

Here's the reality: effective client acquisition involves learning marketing strategies and implementing them consistently. But that consistency becomes exponentially easier when you have one crucial element in place.

Why Good Intentions Fail

Many well-intentioned coaches try to create support networks with other coaches. While the intention is admirable, there's a fundamental flaw that explains why the coaching industry has such a devastating 80% attrition rate.

The problem isn't lack of ambition or coaching ability. Most coaches in informal support groups rely on outdated strategies like giving away free sessions, networking without strategy, and endlessly talking about their businesses without targeted action.

If these approaches actually worked, that shocking failure rate wouldn't exist.

The Game-Changing Difference

Sarah reveals what the Coaching Revolution was deliberately designed to include – and why it works when other approaches fail. She breaks down the specific elements that create an environment where coaches don't just learn marketing principles, but actually implement them consistently.

There's also a key differentiator that sets this community apart from every other coaching support system out there.

A Remarkable Community

As one member recently shared: "I have never ever felt this supported in anything I've done. This community is remarkable."

In this episode, Sarah explains exactly what makes this environment so effective and why the right support system can be the difference between struggling alone and building a thriving coaching business.

Ready to discover what you might be missing in your current approach?

Have you enjoyed this episode? 

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Ever wondered why those killer self-promotion skills that got you promoted in corporate just aren't working for your coaching business? Sarah breaks down the fundamental difference between marketing yourself as an employee versus marketing your coaching services to clients.

Spoiler alert: they're complete opposites!

Key Takeaways

The Visibility Trap

You know those colleagues who effortlessly climb the corporate ladder? They've mastered the art of staying visible and making their contributions known. While this skill is gold in the workplace, it's actually counterproductive when building a coaching practice.

The Weighing Scales Metaphor

Think of your coaching business like old-fashioned weighing scales:

One side: All your delivery skills (coaching qualifications, certifications, NLP training, personality profiling tools, etc.)

Other side: Your client acquisition skills (problem articulation, solution communication, visibility in the right places)

The catch? These two sides are complete opposites and equally important for success.

The Outcome-Focused Shift

Instead of showcasing how qualified you are, successful coach marketing focuses on:

• The specific problems your coaching solves
• The outcomes clients can expect
• How working with you transforms their situation

Ditch the Coach Speak

Terms like "holding space" and "thinking partner" mean nothing to potential clients. Your marketing needs to speak their language, not coach language.

The "Aha!" Moment

Most coaches struggle with marketing because they're trying to use employee mindset skills in an entrepreneurial context. The skills that made you promotable won't make you profitable as a coach.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

• What specific problem do I solve for my clients?
• How can I describe the outcome of working with me without using coaching jargon?
• Where does my ideal client spend their time, and am I visible there?
• Am I talking about my qualifications or my client's transformation?

The Bottom Line

Your coaching qualifications prove you can do the work, but your marketing skills determine whether you'll get the chance to. Master both sides of the scale, and you'll have a thriving coaching business.

Have you enjoyed this episode? 

Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠ Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠