Inaugural Season Coaching Challenges
                     Inaugural Season Coaching Challenges
In coaching, difficulties and roadblocks are a part of every day. Even though coaches are frequently skilled at solving 
problems, there are several issues that arise often in the teams and programs we deal with. 
Inaugural season coaching challenges as usual, we want to see coaches overcome obstacles, excel in their athletic 
pursuits, and overcome those that stand in their way. We share a few ideas from Bo Hanson's more than 15 years of 
conversations and consultations with coaches and teams, Athlete Assessments, regarding the common coaching 
challenges faced and what strategies can be applied for resolution to offer some guidance in resolving issues that may 
be lurking in a program, now or in the future.
Top 8 Inaugural Season Coaching Challenges
1. Is my coach unwilling to make a commitment to act?
Ultimately, effective coaching is about making someone change and take charge of his future. You have three choices 
if, after you have helped him find a suitable solution, he refuses to create a SMART goal and take on the task of 
achieving it. First, please have a discussion with him to determine if the objective is appropriate; if it isn't, consider 
making adjustments. The second way to encourage him to commit and gauge his degree of commitment is by using a 
Likert scale inquiry, such as On a scale of 1-10, how dedicated are you to making the task happen, with 10 being 
extremely dedicated? The final option is to cease all coaching. 
2. Developing Your Retention Skills
It frequently takes more work to get a new customer than to keep an existing one. However, retention becomes a 
critical focus area because coaching relations often last less than three months. Encourage a long-term relationship. 
Continue to follow up with customers even after a coaching cycle has ended. Distribute resources or, at times, just 
write a kind note. When a customer needs more coaching, these actions can guarantee their return. Every career has 
its set of difficulties. Even if the path appears difficult at times, coaches may learn from every setback and strengthen 
their skills. By being aware of these obstacles and taking proactive measures to overcome them, you will create a 
successful practice and have a good, long-lasting influence on numerous lives.
3. Making the Mosaic of Trust
Are you familiar with the trust fall exercise, where an individual stumbles and requires assistance 
from another? We refer to a series of trust collapses as coaching. However, it can be quite 
challenging to persuade someone to take that first, uncertain step. Be vulnerable. Being more 
relatable may be achieved by sharing personal experiences, struggles, and development moments. 
Knowing you've navigated your own life's maze makes clients more likely to follow your advice.
4. Getting Through the Pricing Maze
The phrase 'you get what you pay for' may not always be evident to prospective customers. Before 
making an investment, they demand guarantees. The cost becomes a significant concern if coaching 
results appear unclear. Take a results-driven stance. Clients will perceive the value in your fees if 
they can directly link your coaching to observable results, such as better relationships, job 
advancement, or personal improvement.
5. Scaling the Mountain of Awareness
Despite coaching's increasing popularity, many people are unaware of its actual nature. It is a luxury 
to some and an abstract idea to others. According to a PwC and ICF survey, the majority of clients 
arrived through referrals, highlighting the issue of awareness. Take part in outreach activities in the 
community. Provide nearby workshops, form alliances with academic institutions, or even 
cooperate with companies. Education is just as important to raising awareness as exposure.
6. The Competition Avalanche
There are two sides to the coaching industry's expansion. On the one hand, the increasing demand is evidence 
of its efficacy. But more instructors are hanging up their shingles as a result of this. In 2019, there were over 
71,000 professional coach practitioners worldwide, according to the International Coach Federation. 
Geographical borders are becoming increasingly hazy in the digital age, making the competitive arena global 
rather than local. Discover your voice. Beyond your area of expertise, make sure that your communication, 
branding, and coaching style all reflect who you are. Being genuine might help you stand out in a crowded 
market.
7. Am I carrying the bulk of the work?
Becoming able to ask insightful questions is essential to becoming a successful coach. Asking questions 
involves both science and art. You should probably step in and assist your coach with the answer if he gives 
you a blank look or says, "I don't know," after you pose a question. Don't dive right in! Rather, let stillness do 
the work for you first. 
Ask a follow-up question, such as What's the first thing that springs to mind? if the pause becomes too long. 
or What was your reaction when I posed that query to you? to encourage him to keep thinking, analyzing, and 
reflecting on himself.
8. Is my coach asking me to help him with his problems?
As a coach, your job is to mentor him, not to resolve his issues. Your job is to ask insightful questions that 
inspire the coach to solve the problem. Giving him the answer deprives him of the chance to advance 
professionally. Additionally, it strengthens his dependence on you for future solutions.