Hi there, I’m so glad you’re here and Welcome to Episode #10 of She Coaches Coaches.
For the last few episodes we've been talking extensively about my Confident Coaches Success Framework. Today we’re going to take about a topic that has really helped many of my clients when they are feeling unsure, uncertain, confused, nervous about starting something new, usually it’s related to their coaching business. Maybe they are learning how to do Facebook Lives or how to invite people to a consult or having their very first coaching session with a client.
Before we get dive in I wanted to read you another review for this podcast. If you haven’t already I’d love it if you would leave a review and maybe I’ll share yours on future episodes!
This one is from bean brains. Here’s what they have to say.
“I love this podcast because Candy speaks so clearly and her voice is so comforting. While building a coaching business it’s awesome to have someone to listen to with such clarity. Her voice and helpful tips are perfect to turn to when my brain is feeling scattered with all the “to do’s” swimming around. Candy knows how to break things down in a calm and confident way. Super helpful!”
So back to the Levels of Learning. I use this is a way of reminding my clients (and if I’m honest myself) that sometimes things don’t go well at the start, sometimes we mess up and it can be really uncomfortable.
Our natural tendency is to feel fear and see the fear as a stop sign. We somehow think the fear will just go away and that we should wait until we’re not so freaked out. But and it’s a big but (no pun intended) when we’re scared and it’s because of something new we’ve chosen to do that’s not true.
Ok, I’m not talking about when you’re in the woods and there’s a grizzly bear who starts to chase you. I’m talking about you decide you’re going to start telling people you’re a coach and that you are looking for your first few clients. That kind of fear. They both might make you want to run and hide, but they’re not for the same reason. Right?
Imagine you’re looking at a staircase. It’s a short little staircase and there are only 4 steps. I originally learned this model when I was taking coach training and The Co-Active Training Institute.
The names of the four levels or steps are kind of complicated so I’ve given each of them a nickname. And if you want to see a sketch of these four levels click through to the episode page. I’ll create a little graphic and put it in there so you can see it and follow along
- Unconsciously incompetent (aka clueless),
- Consciously incompetent (aka cringe worthy)
- Consciously competent (aka hyper focused)
- Unconsciously competent (aka masterful)
Let me describe these levels to you in a way that’s quick and easy. I’m going to use the metaphor of learning how to drive.
Level 1 Unconsciously Incompetent (aka Clueless),
Imagine you’re 14 years old. You’re often a passenger in a car. You dream of the day that you can finally get your drivers license. This is a breeze, why does Mom always drive so slow. That idiot didn’t put their turn signal on, what a dummy. Oh, I can hardly wait, why do I have to wait until I’m 16 to start. I wish I could just get on with it. You are completely clueless.
Level 2 Consciously Incompetent (aka Cringe-worthy)
The day has arrived, it’s time for you to learn how to drive. You’ve got a brand new learners license and finally you slip into the drivers seat. You’re at the wheel! You’re puffed up and feeling like a million bucks. Finally! Let’s go.
Now here comes Level 2 Consciously Incompetent. Ok where does the key go again? How come it’s so hard to get the key in the ignition. Where do I adjust the mirrors? Um, that’s too high, no no nope that’s not right. Fiddle fiddle fiddle and you finally get them adjusted. Ok now we’re off. You put the car into drive and press the gas….and nothing happens. The engine revs but you’re stuck. Oh the emergency brake, you find and release the emergency brake. Now your parents are pretty smart, they’ve taken you to an empty parking lot to start out. There are no cars around, so should be a breeze right? Nope not so much. Press the gas….ok here we go….oh geez I jumped ahead kinda fast….um where’s the brake. Scccreeeech you slam on the brakes. Your Dad, is gripping the door handle and says ”thank god we’re wearing a seatbelts. “
Well you get the idea and maybe you remember this too. You had no idea it was going to be so complicated or hard. It looked so easy when someone else was doing it…but it’s hard and it’s painful and cringeworthy.
Level 3 Consciously Competent (aka Hyper-focused)
Now you’ve been driving for awhile maybe you’ve taken some driving lessons, maybe your parents are very patient people. Here we are At Level 3 Consciously Competent or hyper-focused.
Sure you can drive, but you have to stay vigilant. Remember to check your shoulder, I have to put the turn signal on. My hands are at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel. How fast am I going oh, I guess that’s kind of slow I better press the gas a little harder. Ok I’ve got this. I can do this….just don’t talk to me I’m concentrating
Level 4 Unconsciously Competent (aka Masterful)
With time you’ve driven enough. You jump into the car and clip your seatbelt, start the car, hook up your blue tooth and get some good music on. All while you put on the turn signal, check your mirrors and pull out into traffic. Before you know it you’ve been signing along with your favorite song and you’ve arrived at your destination. You didn’t have to think about every single little thing. Congratulations you’re now unconsciously competent. Your brain and body have done the thing they do well, they conserve energy and do their best to put any of activity on auto-pilot.
These four levels apply to you too as you become a new coach. At first your thinking it will be a breeze, everyone tells you you’re a natural. Then you realize how much you don’t know and you kind of freak out a bit. Eventually when you concentrate you can have a good coaching session, but you have to work hard at it eventually much of the effort in the mechanics of coaching go on auto-pilot and now you can focus more on being 100% present with your client.
When you’re in Level 1 – clueless you are happy, no stress, this is going to be a breeze. Now when you move to Levels 2 and 3 it’s not comfortable. It takes a lot of focus, energy and concentration. Plus you often make mistakes and it doesn’t go the way you want it to. Perhaps you can’t think of a powerful question to ask your coaching client and you fumble around and lose your train of thought. When you reach Level 4, you generally go back to feeling pretty good.
So do you see what I mean, it’s easy to feel nervous or uncomfortable when you’re in Level 2 and 3 (cringe worthy and hyper focused) and as a result you might feel nervous of scared….but once the train has left the station and you’ve decided to become a coach you have to go through the discomfort of Level 2 and 3 to get to Level 4.
Fear and discomfort don’t mean stop they mean “keep going”. You’re on the right path, and you’ll get through it.
These levels apply to everyone and to any new thing that you try to do. Whether it’s learning how to drive or learn how to be a coach or find your first paying clients.
It’s completely normal to feel this way. Nothing has gone wrong, it’s just you growing. Accept that every masterful coach was once a new coach too . And we’ve all experienced these Levels of Learning, so you’re in good company. I’m glad you’re in the room.
When you get worried remind yourself of these Levels of Learning and think back to a time when you learned something new and then you got better and better and finally it was easy and you were masterful.
I’m kind of curious what level are you at right now? You might be a Level 4 in your coaching skills but you may still be a Level 2 in your client attraction strategies.
So thanks for joining and remember to listen next week too when I talk about the next step in becoming a confident coach.
Hey, I so appreciate that you’re here as part of my community Now, I want to hear from you too, click through to the episode notes and leave me a comment. Did you find this episode helpful and tell me the kinds of things you want to me to explore in future episodes.
I’m always looking to help you best and that means creating episodes that speak to exactly where you are at.
Now remember, you can completely do this work all of this on your own using the information I share with you in these episodes.
If you love DIY, maybe you’re making a business as an excited do-it-yourselfers and I’m glad you’re here and happy to support you. Subscribe to the podcast so you are first to hear the new episodes.
There are lots of people who want more help. If that’s you there’s a way to find out how to work more closely with me.
My clients are go-getters, and many of them have wanted to become a coach for weeks, months and sometimes even years but the timing wasn’t right. Now they are eager to dive in and take the happy path. They want the quickest and most enjoyable route to becoming a successful coach. They don’t want to have to try and fail and try and fail. They want to speed their time through Level 2 and 3 and they want to start getting traction sooner. If this sounds like you, click on the link in the episode notes and let’s talk.
Before I wrap this up, I want to tell you about my new free vault. I created to help you start your business and become a coach. It’s free and it’s called The Coaches Online Business Academy. Here’s how it works.
Click the link in the Episode Notes and sign up for your free account. As soon as you do you will get immediate access to a whole bunch of resources and it’s all free. I’ve got a quiz to help you narrow down your niche, a pre-recorded 5-day training to kickstart your coaching business, and a lot of PDF guides. Including 147 proven coaching niches, a checklist for what you need to do as a brand-new coach just starting out and ideas for places to find paying clients plus more.
Each month I add more free resources to this vault so it just keeps growing.
You only need to sign up once and you’ll get access to all of it. It’s a really valuable offer, and I’m so pleased to be able to gift it to you.
Click on the link in the show notes and sign up today.
We’ll talk to you soon.
Featured on The Show:
- The Co-Active Training Institute
- Free Resource Library: The Coaches Online Business Academy
- Click here to find out how to work with me
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