29/09/2024
7 Benefits of Being Coached by Someone with Relevant Experience or Proven Success
On numerous occassions in the last 17 years of my coaching career I have had people act surprised when I tell them I am being coached.
When it comes to achieving your goals—whether in business, fitness, personal development, or any other area of life—choosing the right coach is critical. One of the best decisions I have ever made is to work with someone who has either done exactly what I wanted to do or has successfully coached others to achieve similar results. This approach offers a range of benefits that can fast-track success and help avoid common pitfalls. One of my mentors once said the phrase “stand on the shoulders of giants” meaning you don’t have to make the same mistakes as they have in getting where you want to be.
Here are 7 reasons I believe people do better with the right coach. These 7 can also help you to make better choice’s.
1. Proven Experience and Credibility
For me a coach who has walked the same path or coached others through similar challenges brings real-world experience to the table. They understand the nuances, obstacles, and opportunities because they’ve either been through it themselves or have seen others go through it. This level of insight can give you confidence in their guidance, knowing that they’ve been where you want to go or helped others get there.
For example, if you’re an fitness enthusiast aiming to complete your first fitness event such as a Hyrox, a coach who has already built a successful reputation for helping others do this will be able to offer insights that only come from first-hand experience. Similarly, if your goal is to compete in an Ironman or complete a marathon, a coach who has either completed Ironmans/ marathons or trained others to do so will understand the physical and mental demands far better than someone who hasn’t been in that arena.
2. Faster Learning and Fewer Mistakes
By working with a coach who has already achieved what you’re striving for, you gain the advantage of their hard-earned lessons. They can tell you what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t. This dramatically reduces the time you spend figuring things out on your own or making avoidable mistakes.
For example, if your goal is to complete a Hyrox, a coach who has already done this can help you skip over unnecessary strategies or wasted time. Instead of experimenting with tactics that might not work, you can leverage their insights to focus on the methods that are most likely to bring results. Stand on the shoulders of giants again!
3. Tailored Advice Based on What Works
A key benefit of having a knowledgeable coach is the ability to receive personalised advice. For me the word “experienced”is a fallacy within our industry. I have enlisted the services of multiple young coaches who deliver incredible service because they are hungry to learn and research. Experienced is only good when it’s up to date and current. So whilst I value my 17+ years of coaching in the industry, I know it’s only relevant if I am constantly learning and bettering myself. As soon as I stop that, I stop what I am doing.
Coaches who have been through the process with others understand that success isn’t one-size-fits-all. They can help you navigate your unique circumstances and provide guidance that’s specifically tailored to your needs, strengths, and challenges.
Whether they’ve accomplished the goal themselves or helped others do so, they know how to adapt their coaching to fit the individual. This helps ensure that their strategies and tips align with your situation, instead of offering generic advice that may not apply to you. I don’t believe you have to have done the sport to be able to coach elements of it but it does help! Having coached over 30 national and world record holders in the sport of sheep shearing I have no shame in admitting I know very little in terms of the technical elements of shearing, but what I do know is how to apply the science and help those athletes adapt to the demands imposed upon them in feats of extreme endurance.
4. Trust and Accountability
Working with a coach who has been where you want to go fosters a sense of trust and credibility. You’re more likely to believe in their guidance because you know they’ve successfully done it before. This trust can lead to higher levels of commitment and accountability, which are critical for staying on track with your goals.
Moreover, coaches who have successfully guided others are adept at holding their clients accountable. They understand the common reasons why people fall off track and can develop strategies to help you stay focused and motivated. The knowledge that your coach has helped others achieve the same goal creates a sense of responsibility on your part to follow through. When I watch Charlie coaching those clients amongst our fitness family that want to do a Hyrox you can see that he clearly understands what needs to be done and what needs to be thought of. After all anyone can make someone tired but not everyone can make someone better!
5. Access to Insider Knowledge and Networks
In many cases, educated and experienced coaches not only provide knowledge but also offer access to their networks. If they’ve built their own success or coached others to achieve it, they often have valuable connections within the industry. These relationships can open doors for you, providing opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
Whether it’s introducing you to potential training partners, helping you make friends with like minded people, or guiding you toward the best resources, an experienced and current coach can be your gateway to a wealth of opportunities that will accelerate your progress.
6. Long-Term Vision and Strategy
A coach who has either achieved your desired outcome or coached others to do so knows the importance of thinking long-term. They can help you see beyond the immediate challenges and guide you in developing a strategy that will sustain success over time. I say this so many times when I take new members on in consultations that we are interested in long term strategies to help them become healthier. There are million and one fads out there selling the quick fix but there are no short cuts to long term success.
Instead of focusing solely on quick wins, the best coaches can show you how to build a foundation for long-lasting success. Their experience helps them anticipate future challenges and opportunities, enabling them to prepare you for both.
7. Inspiration and Motivation
One of the greatest motivators is seeing someone else who has already accomplished what you desire. A coach with firsthand experience can serve as a powerful source of inspiration. When you see that they’ve achieved the same goal or guided others through similar struggles, it reinforces the belief that your goal is attainable. This is honestly the biggest draw for the clients we work with, over the years we have helped thousands of others in our network both locally and online to achieve and people trust us. That’s not something we take lightly and we are the first to refer out if we don’t think we can help.
For me coaching isn’t just about the good times, we must be there to help our clients through the lows of the journey as well and can encourage you when times get tough.
The success of our clients becomes proof that persistence pays off, helping to motivate you to keep going even when obstacles arise.
