What's one key piece of advice you would give to a new executive coach just starting out? What's important to keep in mind?

Niche, niche, niche as the saying is that the riches are in the niches is a true statement. When I have the privilege of coaching new executive coaches, I find they are all over the place. they want to coach everybody on everything and then find it hard to develop a client base. The result of that is they get either discouraged and/or burned out as they are not locking their focus in on the area they are best at AND they like doing. When I became an ICF PCC certified executive coach, I made the error of putting that title on my website. This resulted in my getting inquiries for coaching of all types. I accepted a few clients but soon realized, I was out of my zone of genius. I went back to my website and squeezed in the word "career". I am an ACE when it comes to all things career related and I am a career practitioner at heart. That's what I love doing and that's where I know I can help the most and get results. Reframing myself as an "Executive Career Coach" has now yielded me a consistent flow of clients that aligns with my niche. I even niched down further where I work with top Fortune 500 and above senior leaders in Insurance, Healtcare, and Tech. And, guess what happened? One doctor begat another doctor, one CIO and CTO began another, and so on. As once I helped one achieve the results they were looking for, they gladly referred me to their friends and others who needed my assistance. Overall, when you are speaking to and trying to serve everyone, you will actually not talk to anyone at all.

One key piece of advice I'd give to a new executive coach is to **focus on listening to understand, not to respond**. Early on, I thought I had to always offer brilliant insights right away. But the real breakthroughs came when I slowed down and gave space for clients to uncover their own answers. You're not there to impress, you're there to reflect, ask the hard questions, and guide. The most powerful sessions I've had weren't the ones where I shared a framework or strategy, but where I said, "Tell me more," and let the silence do the work. Keep in mind that trust isn't built with credentials, it's built with presence. The more grounded and nonjudgmental you are, the more your clients will open up. And when they do, that's where real change begins. Coaching isn't about fixing--it's about facilitating clarity and confidence.

My key piece of advice for new executive coaches is this: your primary role is to listen deeply and ask powerful questions -- not to provide answers or solutions. The real transformation happens when clients discover their own insights from within. Learning to trust this process has been both my greatest challenge and my greatest growth as a coach. When you focus on empowering clients rather than solving for them, you build true leadership capacity -- and that's where the real magic lies.

As the CEO of spectup, I've had my fair share of experiences that have shaped my perspective on what makes effective leadership. One key piece of advice I'd give to a new executive coach is to really listen to their clients - it's easy to get caught up in trying to offer solutions, but often the most valuable thing you can do is hear what's not being said. I remember when I was working with startups at N26, I had to learn to pick up on subtle cues from founders about what they really needed, beyond just what they were asking for. For an executive coach, building that kind of trust is crucial. It's also helpful to stay flexible - every client is different, and what works for one won't necessarily work for another. At spectup, we've seen this firsthand as we work with clients across various industries and stages of growth. Keeping a growth mindset yourself is essential, as you'll be constantly learning from your clients' experiences too. One of our team members once shared that the most successful coaching relationships are the ones where both parties are willing to learn from each other.

If I could give one piece of advice to a new executive coach just starting out it would be to Master the art of listening deeply before advising. Your role isn't to provide all the answers, but to guide leaders toward discovering solutions themselves. Your greatest impact comes when you ask insightful questions, offer reflective observations, and empower your clients to unlock their own potential and clarity." This approach establishes trust, builds confidence, and creates lasting, meaningful results for the leaders you coach.

Start by listening more than you speak. In the beginning, it can feel tempting to prove your value through advice, but the real impact comes from holding space for clarity to surface. People rarely need all the answers, they just need someone who helps them hear their own thinking more clearly. What matters most is presence. When you show up with full attention and genuine curiosity, the right questions tend to find their way in.

Your team looks to you for support and guidance, so lead by example and, above all, be an active listener. Building trust starts with authentic relationships. Show your team that you care about them not just as professionals, but as people. That's how you cultivate the 'know, like, and trust' factor that drives real connection and lasting impact.

It is important to build a strong relationship based on mutual trust and kept confidential. Telling your "story" can help establish credibility. Asking probing questions to gather data will allow the coach to identify areas in your client's behavior that may need to be modified to improve effectiveness.

I recommend building a great network. Get out in the community so people know who you are and start building your social equity. Start giving to others.

One key piece of advice I would give to a new executive coach just starting out would be to Ask Powerful questions. When asking thought-provoking questions, you, as the coach, can assist leaders to uncover insights, develop new perspectives, and stimulate self-awareness.

You don't exist today if you cannot be found online, being invisible is a terrible strategy. If we learned anything during Covid it's that your online presence is only growing in importance. Social media is 24/7 so it's easy to get sucked into it but don't let it drive you crazy, you don't need to be everywhere, it doesn't matter which platform you choose just pick 1 or 2 that are authentic to you. Don't spread yourself too thin. Coaches need to be on LinkedIn so that they can be found. It adds credibility/transparency when you know the people you are meeting/working with know people in common. LinkedIn has become more than an online resume/rolodex, it's the foundation for building trusted relationships in the digital economy. You don't need to blog or be on all social media platforms but make sure you are active on the ones where you are. It should look and sound like you and the brand you have built. Everyone isn't going to like you/hire you but for the ones who would be a great fit for you make sure they feel/keep a connection and give them a reason to remember you so that when they need your help they think of you first. If your clients don't use Facebook, Twitter/X or Instagram to find you then you don't need to make them a priority. For B2B service firms, LinkedIn matters most. With LinkedIn, you don't have to wait for a networking event to make meaningful business connections. You get one chance to make a great first impression so make sure every section of your LinkedIn profile is complete, with no blank spaces/gaps. Include a professional head shot and powerful headline followed by a summary with highlights of your personal brand, what you do well/how you can benefit potential clients. Keep this section brief/easy to skim for best results. Keywords are a great way to help professionals find your profile and strategic keywords in your profile give you an advantage in networking too. To present yourself as an expert in your industry post interesting/educational content by sharing a great article you've read recently or if you truly want to make valuable connections and represent yourself as a talented thought leader in your industry, you should be crafting your own articles on LinkedIn. Thought Leadership is a great way to build your brand/increase your visibility/raise your profile/attract more clients. Make your website keyword rich/mobile friendly/load quickly/produce meaningful content for a cost-efficient foundation for effective SEO.