The 7 Coaching Symptoms That Can Dwarf Your Success

Are you a coach suffering with SDCD…..
Seven Dwarfs Coaching Disorder?

What? You’ve never heard of SDCD? SDCD (Seven Dwarfs Coaching Disorder) has been found to affect the optimal function of professional coaches who have dedicated their time and money to Be Brilliant at what they do!

If you have any signs of these behavioral disorder symptoms you might have a form of SDCD: Sleepy, Sleezy, Bashful, Happy, Grumpy, Dopey and Doc.

SDCD can be contracted at any stage of your coaching career but most cases are reported in the new and emerging coach. When you have SDCD, your business goals often seem out of control. Staying organized and on top of things can be extremely challenging–as is sorting out what information is relevant to grow a successful business, prioritize things you need to do, keep track of tasks and responsibilities, and effectively manage your time so you can be a brilliant coach.

There are seven common symptoms to be aware of:
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• Sleepy: inability to sustain your energy for marketing or the energy to keep your business going
• Sleezy: has a strong feeling of insecurity and shame when sharing your fees with a prospective client or conversely feeling a sense of strong attachment to “closing the deal” no matter what.
• Bashful: is the “hidden” coach, difficulty articulating who you are and what you offer, insecure when talking about coaching with others.
• Happy: feels like everything is just great even though you wish it could be better, may be highly energetic and perpetually “on the go” doing many things at once and not making any progress but feeling like you are busy so things must be ok
• Grumpy: constantly complains about how you wish things were better, blames others for your lack of success, is never satisfied no matter what opportunities come your way, always judges your actions and in-actions
• Dopey: doesn’t feel smart enough to know what it takes to be successful as a coach, frequently forgets to record mileage and other business expenses, forgets to take care of yourself while taking care of your business, constantly loses track of your progress, misplaces appointment book and business receipts
• Doc: strong desire to fix your clients problems, freely offers advice on what should be done next, tries anything to just survive, won’t charge for coaching till you “get better” at it.

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Do your best to identify the areas where you experience difficulty.

Once you pinpoint your most problematic symptoms, you can start to work on strategies for managing them. Here are just a few strategies you can begin to consider:
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• Get enough rest and play. Remember self-care is crucial to your success.
• Value your expertise. Decide what fees are best for you and feel confident with your decision until you are ready to go to the next level.
• Be confident. Get clear about who you are as a coach and the benefit you provide your ideal client.
• Focus on what you have accomplished. Continue to work towards your goals. Seize the opportunities as they arise and feel good about what you are creating.
• Acknowledge yourself. You have accomplished a lot since your coach training. Recognize the powerful choice you have made to be a coach. Share your passion and purpose to make a difference in the world.
• Slow down. Take one step at a time so that you feel in control of your business. Stay organized and do only the tasks that you love and delegate the rest.
• Stay curious and open. Engage with your coaching colleagues to challenge your thinking, get out of your coaching box, hone your skills and hire a coach or mentor for support.

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If the symptoms of SDCD are still getting in the way of your success, despite self-coaching efforts to manage them, it may be time to seek outside support.

A professional Mentor Coach trained in SDCD can support you to:
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• Review and strengthen your coaching skills
• Build your confidence
• Set achievable goals
• Overcome blocks to growing your coaching business
• Work on your own personal and professional development
• Plan and promote your coaching business
• Be Brilliant at what you do

[/fancy_list] Here’s what you need to remember from this article to BE BRILLIANT at what you do:

Know the seven symptoms of SDCD: Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Happy, Grumpy, Dopey and Doc.

Apply these strategies for managing the behavioral symptoms that interrupt your success:
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1. Get enough rest and play.
2. Value your expertise.
3. Be confident.
4. Focus on what you have accomplished.
5. Acknowledge yourself.
6. Slow down.
7. Stay curious and open.
8. Work with a Mentor Coach to Be Brilliant at what you do.

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You can still shine, no matter how frazzled, frustrated and out of control you might feel growing your business. With structure, support, and a coaching toolkit, you can boost your coaching skills and Be Brilliant at what you do.

Photo of 7 dwarves by Loren Javier – FLICKR.COM