Coach-Trainer-FAQ: A Masterclass in becoming a coach with Lucy Higgins

On this 'Making of a Coach', Tobi meets Lucy Higgins to unpack real "Frequently Asked Questions" from aspiring coaches wanting to become a coach. Drawing on her work training cohorts of new coaches at Animas in the UK and her own practice, Lucy digs into client acquisition strategies, whether to niche, and the true timeline of coaching business building. They also explore coaching pricing models, the balance between directive and non‑directive work, why supervision matters and when ICF/EMCC accreditation helps (and when it doesn’t).Key Learnings:Define a precise client avatar and map “Hell Island to Heaven Island” outcomes; choose outreach where those clients already are (e.g., LinkedIn, events), then prioritize referrals - practical client acquisition strategies to become a coach who consistently books calls.Run an 80/20 split: 80% delivering, 20% building; set up simple systems early (e.g. Calendly or similar tools for scheduling) to compound your coaching business building.Calibrate fees to client segment and outcomes, then review quarterly; consider sliding scales and raise rates as evidence and confidence grow - your working “coaching pricing models.” If you target corporates or platforms, evaluate ICF/EMCC accreditation requirements first.Resources:Lucy Higgins's Website: https://lucyhigginscoaching.co.uk/Lucy Higgins's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyhigginscoaching/Animas Centre for Coaching: https://www.animascoaching.comInternational Coaching Federation (ICF): https://coachingfederation.orgEMCC Global: https://www.emccglobal.orgAssociation for Coaching (AC): https://www.associationforcoaching.comCalendly: https://calendly.comCoachHub: https://www.coachhub.comBetterUp: https://www.betterup.comFind your Coaching Tool: https://metaFox.euTry the metaFox Strengths Discovery: https://strengths-discovery.comConnect with Tobi on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/tobiasweghornEpisode Chapters:00:00 Teaser: Hell Island To Heaven Island00:02 Why This Coach‑Trainer FAQ Episode00:10 Client Acquisition Strategies: Avatar, Channels, Referrals00:13 Coaching Business Building Timeline And Buffer00:15 Should I Niche Or Be The Niche?00:17 Selling As A Helper, Not A Salesperson00:19 Coaching Pricing Models And Sliding Scales00:25 Systems That Save Time: Calendly, Xero, SEO00:36 Directive vs Non‑Directive Coaching00:40 Coaching Accreditation: ICF, EMCC, AC