103: Should Coaches Have Expertise?

This episode is part of the Smart Mindsets & Habits series. Find the whole podcast series at prosperouscoach.com/mindsetsI wanted to let you know that my last episode had record listens. I was sharing how there’s one thing you must have going for you to be successful in your coaching business. It’s worth a listen because it’s likely not at all what you think. Check it out at prosperouscoach.com/102 or find it on any podcast app as episode 102.Many coaches worry that they need expertise to be successful as a coach. Well … do you need expertise?I say no. But if you cultivate expertise you will gain credibility and find many ways to serve others with it. Experience is the Primer for Expertise As a CoachSometimes I’ll talk to a coach who has decided to focus on a target audience and niche because they think that’s where the money is.For example a coach who has never been in corporate decides to become a corporate coach. Or a coach who has never had any business experience deciding to be a business coach. While it may be true that there can be increased income potential in corporate or business coaching, the competition is fierce. And without a background – some experience in those worlds – targeting them would be fruitless.You’ll notice, in those particular circumstances it’s not expertise they need so much as experience.When I help coaches choose their target audience and develop their niche I do look for and encourage them to leverage their unique experience, knowledge and wisdom. It doesn’t have to be career experience by the way. It can be life experience.In those cases it can be the foundation for a natural audience and coaching niche solution.Are You Second Guessing Your Experience?But sometimes, even with vast experience, a coach won’t fully perceive and believe in the value of their own experience. They second-guess it. Or they find holes in their knowledge that they think disqualifies them off hand to work with an audience.I don’t see it that way. I know the power of story. And I know that if you’ve experienced what it’s like to be your target audience – even if you’re not there now – it brings you credibility.So consider thinking of experience as the primer for expertise. Gain Expertise in DaysI think a lot of people have an old fashioned concept of expertise. There’s that apprentice idea that you have to follow the master around and learn everything they know before you can go out on your own.But we live in modern times where knowledge and experience are at our fingertips. I have a fluid concept of expertise. And I invite you to consider adapting it. To me, expertise is when you’ve applied focus and awareness on a particular problem and you’ve solved it for yourself or at least begun to solve it for yourself.Focus + Awareness are powerful ingredients to quickly build expertise ...Read more about how to gain expertise quickly.