The 21 Most Common Coaching Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (Part 1)
Are you making one of these coaching mistakes commonly made by coaches worldwide? Protect your money, time, freedom, and reputation with these simple solutions.
Coaching could be one of the most fulfilling businesses, but if you’re anything like me, you want to ensure your dream business does not turn into a nightmare. As a lawyer myself who advises and drafts coaching contracts for coaches like you, I am sharing all the common coaching mistakes I’ve seen coaches make and what you can do to avoid or stop making those mistakes.
You will learn about the major coaching mistakes commonly made, including coaching mistakes examples and bad coach characteristics so that you can avoid or stop these poor coaching techniques and practices.
After learning about all the coaching mistakes to avoid and how your time, freedom, and money will be protected, you’ll have happy, high-paying clients.
This post is all about the major coaching mistakes and how to avoid or stop them so that you’ll become the best coach in your niche.
Common Coaching Mistakes
All the major coaching mistakes examples
#1 of the Common Coaching Mistakes: Trying to Help Everyone
The Mistake
One of the common coaching mistakes that coaches, especially beginners, make is trying to help everyone. The reality is that you can’t be the best coach for everyone.
For example, if you’re a fitness coach, your personality, expertise and focus areas may be better for either of the following types of people:
A 21-year-old girl who is overweight and wants to start becoming healthy and work out for the first time in her life
A 38-year-old bodybuilder who is looking to perfect his physical appearance for his next competition
These are two completely different archetypes with completely different needs, and you will naturally be better at helping one over the other.
Trying to help both will only lead to you remaining a mediocre coach and unsatisfied clients.
The Solution
Here are 2 things I recommend you do.
1. Create your ideal client avatar
Hone in on the qualities and strengths and figure out what archetype would be the best fit for you and vice versa. Based on that, write out your niche and ideal client avatar in as much detail as possible. If you’re starting out and you don’t have a clear vision of your ideal type of client, use tools like surveys, social media polls, or client feedback forms to identify which clients best suit you. Market your coaching services with that client avatar in mind.
2. Make it legally binding
One of the first things I always urge my clients to do in my coaching contract template is (1) get granularly specific on what is within their scope and (2) specify what is outside of their scope.
With this exercise, you will make crystal clear to both yourself and your client how you will help your client and how you will not help your client.
It’s also crucial to include specific coaching disclaimers for your niche in your coaching contract to make clear how you will not help your clients. You can read more about all the coaching disclaimers you need in these blog posts:
#2 of the Common Coaching Mistakes: Accepting Everyone as a Client
The Mistake
That brings me to the next one of the common coaching mistakes: accepting everyone as a client.
A client may seem like the right fit based on the problems they have that you can fix, but that does not necessarily mean that that client won’t become a major problem for you. In other words, a client may fit your client avatar, but that client might actually be a complete nightmare in certain ways, like the following:
Your client could be mean or disrespectful toward you.
Your client might even become (physically or verbally) aggressive or abusive.
Your client could damage your reputation on social media.
Your client might actually need help from a licensed professional therapist or doctor and should not be coached right now.
Your client could be underaged and thus not be bound by your coaching contract, resulting in no obligation of the client to pay you.
This is why you can’t just accept anyone as your client, even if they might seem like the right fit based on your client avatar.
The Solution
Here are 2 things I recommend you do.
1. Create a clear onboarding process
The first thing I recommend you do is create a clear onboarding process, including at least a questionnaire and a discovery call, to evaluate whether your client will be compatible.
I have created a step-by-step process specifically for coaches in this blog post on the 7 Simple Steps to Implement a Coaching Terms and Conditions Template For Easy Onboarding.
2. Create legally binding obligations for your client
The next thing you need to do is create legal protections in your coaching contract as follows:
Set representations and warranties for your client so that the client makes a legal promise that the client (1) is of legal age, (2) is in the right state of mind (not needing help from a licensed professional), and (3) will treat you with the utmost respect. I have an entire list in my coaching contract template to cover all bases.
Insert legal protections that entitle you to terminate the relationship with your client immediately without compensation if the client breaks any of your rules.
That way, you are fully protected and do not lose anything if the client ends up being a nightmare after you’ve onboarded them.
#3 of the Common Coaching Mistakes: Not Asking Effective Questions
The Mistake
Another one of the coaching mistakes (especially for beginner coaches) is not asking effective questions. Thus, you’re not getting to the root of the problems of your clients or getting to the real issues at hand. Effectively, that results in your client not hitting their goals or going back to their old ways.
The Solution
Partly, this comes down to experience. Once you’ve had a couple of different clients, you’ll develop more sensitivity for what questions you should ask them to get to the bottom of their issues.
But here are some practical tips:
One of the reasons for not asking insightful questions might be because you’re thinking of what to say next or creating an answer yourself before your client even finishes talking. Stop thinking and practice active listening. Keep asking follow-up questions to dig deeper.
Create a library of powerful, open-ended questions tailored to different scenarios. Simply use an Excel sheet.
Study, study, study. Follow courses or read more relevant books that focus on communication techniques.
#4 of the Common Coaching Mistakes: Not Setting Clear Expectations
Another one of the common coaching mistakes is not setting clear expectations, which will inevitably lead to unsatisfied clients and feeling burnt out because you’re doing everything to make your clients happy.
The Solution
Here’s a few things you could do:
1. Be upfront about the main process
Highlight your coaching process, fees, payment schedule, and refund policy on your sales page.
2. Formalise the details in your contract
Be very specific in your coaching contract about all the details, like the following:
A clear scope of what you will do and a list of what is out of scope
How many coaching sessions a client gets per week or month
How often and when you’ll check in with your client
How coaching sessions will be scheduled
The maximum duration of each of the coaching sessions
The communication methods and mediums used
Your availability (office hours) and response time
Clear disclaimers that you are not responsible for any outcomes or results
A cancellation and rescheduling policy for coaching sessions
A clear payment schedule and detailed refund policy
Ensure you have a comprehensive coaching contract template with all the steps and details included.
3. Lay it all out during the first session
During your first session, go over a coaching roadmap with your client so that the client knows exactly what to expect (and comply with your plan instead of creating their own).
#5 of the Common Coaching Mistakes: Doggedly Following a Coaching System
The Mistake
Another one of the common coaching mistakes is doggedly following a coaching system. Every client is different, and thus, every client will need a (slightly) different approach for the best results.
The Solution
Here’s a few things you could do:
1. Treat coaching systems as frameworks
Treat your coaching system as a framework, not a rigid law. Make it a challenge for yourself to regularly review and adapt your system based on client feedback and results. Keep a journal of sessions to reflect on what works and adjust accordingly.
2. Create flexibility in your contract
You may be afraid to veer off the beaten path because your coaching system is what the client agreed to. And, when they’re unhappy with the results, they might consequently claim that you did not deliver what is stated in the contract.
That is why my coaching contract template includes (and so should yours) comprehensive disclaimers that state the following:
The descriptions of your coaching program on your website, social media, or anywhere else are intended to convey the general nature of your program only and do not guarantee the content thereof.
You reserve the right to amend, change, alter, or modify the content and structure of your coaching program.
You are entitled to determine the methods, tools, techniques, and approaches used and that your coaching program may evolve or change over time.
#6 of the Common Coaching Mistakes: Talking Too Much
The Mistake
The next one of the common coaching mistakes to avoid is talking too much.
The Solution
Here are two practical tips to practice active listening:
Use a 70/30 rule: let the client speak 70% of the time.
Record your sessions (with client consent) and review them to identify when you might be talking too much.
#7 of the Common Coaching Mistakes: Thinking You Know It All
The Mistake
Another crucial one of the coaching mistakes made is thinking you know it all. Not only can overconfidence be offputting, but it can also lead to more mistakes, such as misjudging client needs or applying ineffective strategies without proper assessment.
The Solution
Acknowledge that learning is a continuous process and implement the following strategies to remain humble:
Schedule regular self-assessments to identify areas for improvement.
Find another coach in your niche with whom you can have assessment sessions in which you give each other honest feedback to help each other improve.
Make it a goal to achieve even better results for your clients. Develop a system for tracking client outcomes to identify patterns of success and failure, ensuring you’re adapting and growing with each session.
The other 14 of the 21 coaching mistakes
I’ve discussed 7 of the 21 coaching mistakes. But you haven’t learned about these other bad coaching characteristics and issues:
Giving Unqualified Advice or giving lots of advice
Believing Everything Their Client Says
Poor Listening or Not Listening Intently
Not Reflecting
FOverstepping boundaries
Focusing Only on Goals
Ignoring Accountability
Misunderstanding a Client
Not Measuring the Outcome of Coaching
Owning the Outcome
Rigid Goals
Telling Others What to Do
Trying Too Hard to Be Liked
Working Too Hard
Learn about these other coaching mistakes and how to avoid them in Part 2: The 21 Most Common Mistakes in Coaching and How to Avoid Them (Part 2).
Avoid the top 10 coaching mistakes with this one ultimate solution
As I’ve discussed in this blog post, many coaching issues and at least the top 10 coaching mistakes (as you’ll read in Parts 2 and 3) can be easily solved with a proper coaching contract.
Want a coaching agreement template that includes all the terms you need to avoid these common coaching mistakes?
My coaching contract template is the ultimate template that will help you avoid major coaching mistakes, create clear processes, and protect your coaching business!
Learn more about my coaching contract template on this page of my contract shop!
Pitfalls to avoid in coaching
Now, you know about all the common coaching mistakes to avoid, but what about external circumstances or traps that can cause your coaching business to fail?
After this series, I’ll be sharing the pitfalls to avoid in coaching and exactly how to avoid them, so stay tuned!
This post was all about the common coaching mistakes and how you can avoid or stop them so that you’ll have your dream coaching business.
For more legal coaching mistakes to avoid in your coaching contract, read this blog post on the 7 Major Mistakes to AVOID in Your Coaching Terms and Conditions (No One Talks About).
Learn about the crucial coaching boundaries you must set to safeguard your time and energy in this blog post on the 10 Vital Boundaries Every Online Coach Must Set in a Coaching Contract Template.
Are you looking for a coaching contract to avoid most of the coaching mistakes at once? Get the ultimate coaching contract template on this page of my contract shop!
