The Business of Executive Coaching (Ellie Scarf)

Welcome to The Business of Executive Coaching! Join your host Ellie Scarf to dive into the world of executive and leadership coaching businesses. In this episode meet Ellie, learn about her background and what you can expect from The Business of Executive Coaching. Enjoy!

Welcome to Episode 1 of "The Business of Executive Coaching," where we're diving into a truth many coaches miss during training.

Coaches often start driven by their passion for people and their experience of coach training. It's all about helping, impacting, and those one-on-one coaching moments. Sadly, loving coaching isn't enough if you can't sell your services and run a business. It's like having a fantastic car but not knowing how to drive it.

Stats show coaches giving up their dream practices because they forget to invest in the business side—the unsung hero behind the coaching magic. Time to dive into the nitty-gritty of your business, from marketing plans to understanding profits. Let's make your coaching dream last!

Don't miss the free webinar on Feb 22nd, "How to Build a Corporate Coaching Offer That Sells." Register at www.elliescarf.com/offersthatsell.

In this podcast, we dive into pricing for executive coaches. 

Coaches are altruistic beings, so alongside practice challenges with pricing, there is also a lot of mindset at play. But being well-paid is not selfish but necessary if you want to sustain a meaningful and impactful business.

In this episode I touch on the three factors influencing pricing: coach factors, client factors, and market factors. I then share five practical tips for coaches to up their prices without feeling weird, covering mindset shifts, rethinking our benchmarks, the perils of over-delivery, avoiding unnecessary discounts, and making regular price increases a habit. A bonus tip reminds coaches not to assume things about clients' wallets but instead focus on showcasing the value they bring.

These tips will help you look at pricing with new eyes, and hopefully encourage you to increase your prices!

Hey there, welcome back!

Today, let's talk about something fun – your executive coaching home office. I'm Ellie, your host, and I've got opinions about your working environment!

Creating your coaching space is crucial. It sets the tone for client interactions and helps you stay focused. But forget about perfection. What we want is intention and clarity. We get these things by being clear on how we want to feel in our space, and what purposes the space needs to fulfil.

On the practical side, invest in a good chair, a big monitor, and consider a sit-stand desk. For remote coaching, your AV setup matters – high-speed internet, good sound, quality video, and the right backdrop. Privacy is also key because confidentiality matters. Now, inject personality! Plants, art, fresh flowers – make it uniquely yours. 

Share your ideas with me at ellie@lucentorg.com!

In today's podcast episode, we're diving into the world of chemistry conversations. Do you love them? Or is there more dread happening?  In this episode we explore the upside and downside for the 3 parties who have a stake here - coaches, coachees and client organisations.

In this episode I will share a few tips for navigating chem check conversations including:

• Remind yourself it's a two-way street.
• Assess if you need to talk more or less.
• Mind those insecurities; we've all got them.
• Match your energy to their desired state.
• Get a strategic time slot.
• Deeply understand their challenges.
• Boost your credibility by sharing relevant experiences.

And hey, a word of encouragement – these conversations are part of the gig. Embrace them, learn from them and they will lose some of their sting.

Let me know your challenges and war stories!

If you want to debrief in a community of peers, you might be interested in joining the Impact Coach Collective. Have a look at www.elliescarf.com/icc to see if you are a fit!

Welcome to our special BONUS episode to celebrate the launch of the Impact Coach Collective - our online business education and mentoring community for executive and leadership coaches. If you'd like to learn more, jump on the www.elliescarf.com/icc and join while doors are open!

This episode is a live recording of a session run on LinkedIn where I take time to decode marketing buzz words and whether or not they apply to us as executive coaches. We cover leads (yes you should know about these!!), lead magnets (maybe), containers, funnels and much more.

Have a listen and check which terms are part of your marketing vocab and which are new to you.

As always, get in touch with me if you have any questions or comments - all are most welcome. The best place is at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliescarf/ or send me an email to ellie@lucentorg.com 

I'd love to have you in the Impact Coach Collective, our focus for March is going to be warm outreach strategies so if that sounds like something you shouldn't miss make sure you join this launch.

This episode is an interview with my mentor, good friend and extraordinary coach and business person - Dr Louise Kovacs. In our chat we cover a lot of ground. We talk about:

• Louise's corporate to coach story
• Thoughts on pricing
• How associate coaching has been part of her journey
• Getting ok with rejection
• Her research into how coaches can work with complexity (I told you she was clever!)

You can connect with Louise on LinkedIn .

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective here.

Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn here.

Download my guide to the Top 5 Mistakes of New Executive Coaches (and what to do instead).

In this Episode I get a chance to speak with the inimitable Dr Saba Hasanie. Saba has an extraordinary corporate to coach story, and currently runs a thriving business employing a team of executive coaches. But beyond that, Saba has a fascination with how our history, and how we have made meaning of our history, shows up in our coaching, our businesses and our leadership. 

In this episode Saba and I explore her history and the challenges she faced in establishing her coaching practice. We also dive deep into her approach to pricing and selling - this is worth a listen because I haven't come across many coaches who do these things as well as Saba does.

Saba also shares her new programme for coaches, The Biographical Dimensions of Leadership using BDMM. If you are looking for one of those programmes where you get to go deep into your own 'stuff' while building new perspectives and tools that you can bring to your coachees - this is for you. I was stunned by Saba's research (which she shares in the episode) that this is a commonality to the approaches of the most successful and respected coaches that she interviewed.

To learn more about Saba's programme - check it out here: Biographical Dimensions of Leadership and you can Register Here.

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

Interested in building a Corporate Coaching Offer the Sells? See my free Masterclass here.

This episode is all about outsourcing for executive/leadership business owner. Learn more about:

• What you could outsource
• How to know when you can afford to outsource
• What gets in the way of outsourcing
• The importance of outsourcing domestic tasks
• Gender dynamics in outsourcing.

I'd love to hear what you do or don't outsource and why! So drop me a line here and let me know.

Learn how to save time in your coaching business using AI here.

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find me on LinkedIn here.

Love them or hate them, as business owners, we need to track our metrics. Or do we?

In this episode I talk about why I think metrics are important (even if I don't love them!), what specifically coaching business owners should be tracking, what to watch out for when it comes to metrics and how to get started now so you can look back in 6 months and see the progress you have made!

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

Interested in building a Corporate Coaching Offer the Sells? See my free Masterclass here.

Maybe this is a bit of an advanced episode, but I think it is sensible for all business owners to be thinking about the offer suite. Part of that thinking may include thinking about offers that scale, because let's be frank - coaching is wonderful work, but you are limited by the time that you have available. 

There are however, scalable offers that you may want to consider having in your toolkit. In this episode I share 5 of them, including a little about what it is, how you could use it and a few 'bewares' while i'm at it. 

If you are interested in building a digital course, take a look at Tina Tower's programme. She breaks down the steps to build and market the course in her course Idea to Launch - you can check it out here.

I build my course on Kajabi - it is a great one stop shop for website, course hosting, email platform and more. Check it out here.

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

Interested in building a Corporate Coaching Offer the Sells? See my free Masterclass here.

First up in this episode I share that I am offering a free Masterclass on the 8 Foundations of a Thriving Executive Coaching Business - if this is of interest, register at www.elliescarf.com/8foundations 

This episode, all about the most frequent questions I get asked about LinkedIn was prompted by the fact that a good amount of all the questions people ask me (members of my paid mentoring and education community and other folks) are about LinkedIn.

In this episode I answer the questions:

1. Should I be posting from my personal account or my business account?
2. Should I get LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator?
3. How often should I post?
4. Is there a 'best' time of day to post?
5. What should I post?
6. What should I avoid in my LinkedIn posts?

I hope this is of interest - please let me know what other questions you have! 

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

Join the 8 Foundations of a Thriving Executive Coaching business masterclass here. 

We are opening doors to the Impact Coach Collective for a short time in May and during our launch week I am offering a free Masterclass on the 8 Foundations of a Thriving Executive Coaching Business - if this sounds interesting you can register at www.elliescarf.com/8foundations

This episode I am talking about the power of “one at a time”. The truth is, focus is something I believe in deeply AND I struggle with immensely. In this episode join me for a quick chat about why executive coaching business owners need to focus, and a few tips on how to do so.

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

We are opening doors to the Impact Coach Collective for a short time in May and during our launch week I am offering a free Masterclass on the 8 Foundations of a Thriving Executive Coaching Business - if this sounds interesting you can register at www.elliescarf.com/8foundations 

This episode I am sharing my Corporate to Coach story – warts and all. Particularly the warts. I share the journey from corporate lawyer to executive coaching business owner, the challenges along the way and why this makes me really care about coaches building sustainable and profitable businesses that support their life goals.

*Not literal warts

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

We are opening doors to the Impact Coach Collective for a short time in May and during our launch week I am offering a free Masterclass on the 8 Foundations of a Thriving Executive Coaching Business - if this sounds interesting you can register at www.elliescarf.com/8foundations 

This episode is about visibility. By nature, and by training, many coaches find visibility a very challenging topic, which often manifests in avoiding doing many of the marketing activities we know we need to do to grow our businesses. In this episode I share why I think coaches are so troubled by this topic, my experience of this subject and a step by step guide to gradually increasing your comfort with visibility on LinkedIn. There is nothing like exposure therapy!

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business: Mindset Tips

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

What is the Impact Coach Collective? Who is it for? Listen in while I answer those questions. I also share the launch bonuses if you join this week, and an extensive list of launch activities. Hope to see you at one of the events!

We are opening doors to the Impact Coach Collective from 7 – 14 May, and during our launch week I am offering a free Masterclass on the 8 Foundations of a Thriving Executive Coaching Business - if this sounds interesting you can register at www.elliescarf.com/8foundations 

You can learn my top 5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business: Mindset Tips

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing coach and business person extraordinaire – Jean Balfour. We explored Jean’s own Corporate to Coach Story including lots of juicy details about her coaching business. We talked about when she says no to work, how she is working on her own money stories, what famous figure she would like to coach and more.

Jean has also undergone a second transition as she also now runs Bailey Balfour – and ICF accredited coach training company. I get to ask lots of questions about why and how she grew this business, what is important to her when it comes to coach training, and when she thinks it is important to do advanced PCC level training.

You can find Jean in lots of places:

• Bailey Balfour 
• Podcast – Making Sense of Work with Jean Balfour 
• LinkedIn 

Jean also mentioned a few books:

• Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi
• The Happiness Trap, Dr Russ Harris
• The Way of Integrity, Martha Beck

I love the work of Russ Harris but the other 2 are new to me so I’ll be diving in!

You can learn my top 5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business in this free resource: Mindset Tips

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

I am pleased to share with you today, the masterclass that I ran last week called The 8 Foundations of a Thriving Executive Coaching Business. This session is jam packed with ideas, tips, and tools to help guide your thinking when it comes to setting up, or growing your executive coaching business.

The 8 foundations we cover are:

- The importance of your business owner mindset

- Building a compelling offer suite

- Getting known (marketing!)

- Getting clients (sales!)

- Managing your business finances

- Strategic professional development

- Systems, tools and processes

- Building your support team.

You can get access to the video recording along with the slides and assessment document here: www.elliescarf.com/8foundations

You have a few more days to join the Impact Coach Collective so check it out here -  Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

SHOW NOTES

Despite my voice starting to peter out by the end of this episode, I shared 3 ideas that I think could take your marketing to the next level if you already have the basics in place.

I shared the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of 3 strategies:

1. Creating an email list and newsletter
2. Using Lead Magnets to grow your list
3. Content batching

Take a listen and I’d love you to share which of these you think these could work for you!

I mentioned a few tools and resources in this episode:

• If you want to learn how to download your LinkedIn data into a spreadsheet I have a webinar recording that explains how! Check it out here - https://www.elliescarf.com/newclients
• Interested in a free trial of Kajabi? Check it out here - https://app.kajabi.com/r/mXxDkdMT
• I love Monday.com for our task and project management, it works really well for content planning. You can get a free trial here also!

You can learn my top 5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business in this free resource: Mindset Tips

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

Today I am pleased to share a conversation with Imogen Maresch. Imogen and I roam far and wide, and touch on:

• Her corporate to coach journey
• Normalising the ups and downs of being in business as an executive coach
• How it helps to differentiate between confidence and courage
• How getting paid well for our work lets us support causes that are important to us
• The interaction between our pricing and value
• The role of play in helping us build resilience – for coaches and clients

Connect with Imogen on LinkedIn here.

 You can learn my top 5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business in this free resource: Mindset Tips

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

This episode is all about how our business can fuel our personal growth. I share 5 key ways that I’ve experienced personal growth, and how you might also.

Do any of these sound like growth areas for you? Take a listen and let me know what your growth edge is!

1. Fighting perfectionism
2. Taking things less personally
3. Getting things done
4. Self belief
5. Growth mindset

If you want a tool to help you structure your tasks and priorities – consider using Monday.com – we love it! Here is our affiliate link if you want to give it a try! 

You can learn my top 5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business in this free resource: Mindset Tips

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

This episode is all about a tool I’ve implemented recently in my business – the hour of power. Sounds cool right? I think so, and I think it has almost limitless potential to be adapted for your business and your life as a tool to keep you focussed and consistent over time.

In this episode I touch on:

1. What an hour of power is
2. How I have implemented it
3. Benefits I’ve seen and challenges I’ve experienced
4. Steps to implement your own hour of power

If you want a tool to help you track your hour of power – consider using Monday.com – we love it! Here is our affiliate link if you want to give it a try!

You can learn my top 5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business in this free resource: Mindset Tips

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

I talk very frequently to people who are considering taking the next step and setting up their executive coaching business. Based on my experience I am summarising today what signs I think indicate that you should start your executive coaching business, and also what signs indicate that you shouldn’t jump in and should reconsider whether this path is for you.

Would you like to have a chat about whether you should start a coaching business? Book a call with me and I’d be happy to help you think it through. Book here!

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

I get a lot of questions from members of my programmes, coaches in my community on LinkedIn, and coaches-to-be who are building a plan of attack. So periodically I like to do an  ‘ask me anything’ episode where I answer a few.

In this episode I answer 3 questions

1. So many coaching platforms require coaching experience to get a role, but I can’t get the hours easily. I’m so well trained and good at what I do! Help!
2. How can I increase prices when my new clients know what others are paying?
3. How to deal with clients or coaching companies who are ghosting me?

If you have a question you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through! [form link]

You can learn my top 5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business in this free resource: Mindset Tips

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

This episode is a short and sharp one covering one thing that I have discovered is missing from many executive coaches LinkedIn strategies – proactively building your network with your ideal clients.

In this episode I share why you should do this, the mechanics to make it happen, and a few FYIs to make sure you build the habit for long term success.

If you have a question you’d like me to cover in a future podcast episode, please fill out this very simple form and send it through! Ask me a question!

You can learn my top 5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business in this free resource: Mindset Tips

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

Ever wondered about the difference between group and team coaching? If you have you are in good company as many of my community members have wondered the same thing. I had the pleasure of a conversation with Dr Louise Kovacs about this very topic.

We covered:

• The difference between group and team coaching.
• What development you might need to consider before you deliver group coaching.
• How to think about pricing group and team coaching.
• The difference between team development and team coaching.
• Much more!

You can connect with Louise on LinkedIn .

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective here.

Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn here.

Download my guide to the Top 5 Mistakes of New Executive Coaches (and what to do instead).

Come to my free Masterclass this week! Learn 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach. Sign up at www.elliescarf.com/pricingclass-og

Today’s episode is a personal one because I’ve had lots of my community talking about the pain they’ve experienced through making the wrong investments in coaches and mentoring programmes.

Firstly – I’ve been there! I invest a lot in coaching and mentoring, and generally I feel like I get an excellent ROI on my investments. BUT! I’ve made some big mistakes too so I want to share my thoughts on when it makes sense to invest in coaching, and when it doesn’t.

I’d love to hear your stories so if you have a success story or a story of regret, hit me up on LinkedIn, FB, Instagram on email.

If you have a question you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through! Submit your question here!

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find me on LinkedIn here.

Coaches, I know it’s hard out there sometimes. And I know sometimes we can feel like we have to put on our ‘game face’ and not show that it is hard or that we are struggling.

This episode is a love letter of sorts (or maybe a pep talk?) to executive and leadership coaches who are out there doing the work. If you have been feeling the ups and downs, this is for you.

Need a pep talk? Just want to chat about your business? Book a call here!

If you have a question you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through! Ask here!

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find me on LinkedIn here.

The terminology ‘executive coach’ can be tricky, and I have met a number of coaches who aren’t sure if that is what they really are.

 In this episode I want to share what an executive coach actually is, and – spoiler alert – it doesn’t require coaching people at the C-Suite level. In my opinion the real differentiator of an executive coach is that we are coaching people in an organisational context – regardless of their place in the hierarchy.

Let me know if you agree!

• Lets chat! Book a call here!
• If you have a question you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!
• Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.
• Find me on LinkedIn here.

Today I am pleased to share a conversation with Han Ee Lim. Han Ee and I roam far and wide, and touch on:

• His journey from the Navy to being a coach
• How his professional athletic endeavours prompted a passion for performance that lead into coaching
• How almost nothing about how we approach our business is black and white
• The interaction between our pricing and engagement in coaching
• So much more!

Connect with Han Ee on LinkedIn here.

You can learn my top 5 mindset shifts for coaches who want to grow their business in this free resource: Mindset Tips

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

For this episode I am so fortunate to be speaking with Nathan Blair. Nathan is a coach and entrepreneur who discovered somatic approaches during his search for ways to manage ADHD as a young person.

I’ve heard a lot about somatic approaches in executive coaching and truly my understanding is patchy. I’ve probably avoided it because it felt a little too ‘woo woo’ for me, but I think the evidence has caught up and I’m behind the 8 ball.

In this episode I got to ask Nathan my most uninformed questions, which he answered with grace and humour. We discuss:

• what exactly ‘a somatic approach’ means
• the evidence base
• using these approaches in corporate environments
• how you might use these approaches to help in your own business
• the Embodied Business Symposium and who its for.

You should sign up for the Embodied Business Symposium here.

Check out Nathan and The Somatic School.

Pricing as an executive coach is tough. Learn my top 5 strategies to increase your prices! Access the Pricing Masterclass now!

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn here.

This episode is all about financial success and the goals and metrics we choose to judge our success by. I share what matters when you assess your financial performance, what doesn’t, and I also touch on why you should apply a cynical filter to numbers shared by coaches and consultants to convince you to buy their services!

Sign up now for the pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach

Lets chat! Book a call here!

If you have a question you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find me on LinkedIn here.

You might be surprised at how early in your coaching business the question of whether you should build a team of associates comes up. If you want to offer a choice of coaches to a great client, you are overwhelmed with work, or you are interested in scaling, this could be something you are thinking about. In this episode I am taking you through practical things to think about before you start hiring.

Keen to be an associate coach? I think there could be a few gems in here about what coaching companies are looking for too.

Sign up now for the pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach

Lets chat! Book a call here!

If you have a question you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!

Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Find me on LinkedIn here.

In this episode I really wanted to be very clear.

Your credibility as a coach is about so much more than your number of coaching hours. In fact, you will be surprised by how many people will hire you as a coach, not because of your coaching experience, but because of your professional background. 

We need to get comfortable and confident selling our coaching services based on both our coaching experience and also our professional experience. Listen on to learn why and how to do this!

Resources + Links:

• Sign up now for my pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach
• Lets chat! Book a call here  to find out how I can help, and if you’d be a good fit for the Impact Coach Collective!
• If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!
• Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.
• Add me on LinkedIn here.

I wanted to challenge myself in this episode to come up with a comprehensive list of where your potential coaching clients are going to come from. These are the individuals that might go on to become clients and go through your sales funnel - hence ‘top of funnel’. It is not enough to know where to get these leads from of course, then you need commitment and strategy to choose your preferred avenues and get enough volume into your funnel.

Listen in for the full list!

Resources + Links:

• Check out episode 23 on the importance of adding LinkedIn connections.
• Learn more about Connectively 
• Sign up now for instant access to my pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach
• Lets chat! Book a call here  to find out how I can help, and if you’d be a good fit for the Impact Coach Collective!
• If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!
• Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.
• Add me on LinkedIn here.

Here at Corporate to Coach central we are in Q4 planning mode! I am doing it for my business, and within the Impact Coach Collective our monthly masterclass was our group planning session. When it comes to planning - I have OPINIONS.

In this episode I am sharing 3 questions you must ask yourself as part of your planning. 

You won’t regret it!

Resources + Links:

• Lets chat! Book a call here to find out how I can help, and if you’d be a good fit for the Impact Coach Collective.
• Sign up now for instant access to my pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach
• If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!
• Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn here!

What a treat! In today’s episode I was fortunate enough to talk to Leanne Hughes. Leanne is an author, consultant, coach, podcast host and much more, including the best descriptions I’ve heard - a ‘thought breeder’. If that sounds intriguing, listen in to hear Leanne’s insights on all our favourite topics:

• pricing strategies
• overcoming sales and marketing challenges
• the importance of building a supportive network
• …and more!

Leanne also shared her practical advice for coaches looking to either add facilitation as a business offering, or improve their facilitation skills. Whether you're an aspiring coach or a seasoned facilitator, this conversation is a goldmine of actionable advice and inspiration.

Find Leanne here:

• Buy Leanne’s book - The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint here.
• Find Leanne on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Want to learn more about Ellie and the Impact Coach Collective?

• Lets chat! Book a call here  to find out how I can help, and if you’d be a good fit for the Impact Coach Collective!
• Sign up now for instant access to my pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach
• If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!
• Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.

Connect with me on LinkedIn here!

I want to take a different approach today and talk about how really embracing our values in our business can transform how we feel about our business, particularly the parts of business that we don’t find easy.

If you ever struggle with sales conversations, marketing, posting on social media or pricing, this episode is for you.

Don't forget - we get to do business our way!

☎️Lets chat! Book a call here  to find out how I can help, and if you’d be a good fit for the Impact Coach Collective!

Want to learn more about Ellie and the Impact Coach Collective?

• Sign up now for instant access to my pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach
• If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!
• Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn here!

This episode of the Business of Executive Coaching podcast dives into essential tips for building a tech stack that efficiently supports your business. Key advice includes starting conservatively with tech investments, focusing on processes over tools, and considering multifunctional tools to simplify your operations. The episode also touches on the emerging role of AI in streamlining business tasks. 

☎️Interested in the Mastermind? Lets chat! Book a call here  to learn more.

Check out Monday.com here

Check out Kajabi here.

Want to learn more about Ellie and the Impact Coach Collective?

• Sign up now for instant access to my pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach
• If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!
• Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn here!

In this episode of the Business of Executive Coaching podcast, I’m talking about the pivotal role of buffers in reducing stress and enhancing efficiency in business. 

Drawing from personal experiences and practical advice, the episode delves into various types of buffers, including financial and time buffers, and their importance in creating a secure, well-prepared, and intentional work environment. All the things that can help you feel less stress in day to day business life.

I also announced some big and exciting changes coming to the Impact Coach Collective which will now be called The Corporate to Coach Accelerator. Along with a range of exciting additions there will be a significant price increase but you have about a week and a half to get in now at the current price and receive all the programme upgrades will locking in your membership rate. Check it out here. 

Want to learn more about Ellie and the Corporate to Coach Accelerator?

• Sign up now for instant access to my pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach
• If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!
• Learn more about the Impact Coach Collective.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn here!

The Impact Coach Collective is being reinvented as the Corporate to Coach Accelerator! 

Listen in to find out exactly what new features are being added to help you halve the corporate to coach business learning curve, bring in your next 10 corporate clients and set up a sales and marketing system that you can do in less than 5 hours a week.

If you’d like to get in at current rates, check out the Impact Coach Collective page here and if you’d like to discuss your business you can book a sales call with me and build your plan of attack here. 

Want to learn more about Ellie and the Corporate to Coach Accelerator?

• Sign up now for instant access to my pricing masterclass! 5 Ways to Increase Your Prices as an Executive Coach
• If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!
• Connect with me on LinkedIn here!

Is flexibility important to you? If you are like most of my clients it is one of the biggest driving factors when it comes to stepping out of the corporate world and into running your own business.

In this episode I am sharing a mindset shift I’ve had recently - and how I’m focussed on what I ‘get to’ do rather than what I ‘have to’ do. My cup runneth over! 

PS - The Impact Coach Collective is being reinvented as the Corporate to Coach Accelerator! 

If you’d like to discuss your business you can book a sales call with me and we can figure out if it is a good fit for you! 

And check out the last episode to learn more about the Accelerator!

PPS - connect with me on LinkedIn here!

PPPS - If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, please fill out this very simple form and send it through!

How long should it take you to grow your coaching business? 

What a vexxed question - comparisons truly are the thief of joy when it comes to feeling great about your business, but it can be hard to get a benchmark if we don’t look at what others are doing.

In this episode we discuss:

• the average time to grow a coaching business
• why it all depends on your individual goals
• what you can do to reduce this time.

One of the primary goals of the Corporate to Coach Accelerator is to halve this growth time and build your thriving business in 12 months.

Join the Waitlist for the Accelerator here.

Book your sales call for the Accelerator here.

PS - Don't forget to connect with me on LinkedIn here!

*Sign up now for my new free live webinar - 3 LinkedIn Strategies to Get Your Next 3 Corporate Clients!* Register here.

It wasn’t that long ago that I would start planning for the year ahead in the week between Christmas and new year. Sadly, those times are long gone and if we want a running start to the new year now is the time to get focussed. So take a moment and join me as I share 8 facets of a a coaching business that you should consider when you build your 2025 strategic plan. 

The pillars I discuss are:

1. Your Products & Services. 
2. Your Pricing 
3. Your Revenue Plan
4. Your Business Development Strategy 
5. Marketing 
6. Financial Management 
7. Systems and Support 
8. Your development

I’m also excited to share more about the Corporate to Coach accelerator launch which starts now!

Join the Waitlist for the Accelerator here to get early access as well as the biggest discounts and bonuses.

Book a discovery call for the Accelerator here if you have questions and would like my eyes on your business.

PS - connect with me on LinkedIn here!

👋🏼 Important Corporate to Coach Accelerator launch week information and links

Doors open Monday 25 November, and close Friday 29 November.

➡️ Book your call here if you have questions and would like my eyes on your business. 

➡️ Join the Accelerator here during launch week for the best discount! There are extra bonuses including a free month of access during December if you sign up before the end of the day on Wednesday 27 November.

➡️ Sign up now for my live webinar (on Tuesday 26 November) - 3 LinkedIn Strategies to Get Your Next 3 Corporate Clients! Register here. (If you've missed it, sign up anyway to get the recording. 

➡️ Register for my newsletter here so you are on the list to get your invitation to a live group coaching taster session on Thursday 28 November.

Can’t wait to see you this week!

PS - connect with me on LinkedIn here!

In this episode I'm sharing my live Masterclass on 3 LinkedIn strategies my clients use to get their next corporate clients.

We talk about the importance of looking at sales as a funnel, and how LinkedIn can be a top of funnel strategy as well as a strategy to nurture leads within your funnel. I'll share 3 of the best tools that I teach inside the Corporate to Coach Accelerator.

Book a call with me here if you would like to chat about your business, and whether the Accelerator could help you hit your big goals in 2025.

Join the Accelerator here during launch week for the best discounts!

Send me a message on LinkedIn here if you'd like the link to the recording of this session.

If you are assuming that the door is closing on business development opportunities for the next 2 months you are not alone. No less than 3 coaches have told me that feel that if they haven’t locked something in by now, that there is not much chance of anything eventuating before February.

 I’m not so sure! Listen in for my reframe, and some other things you can do to keep momentum for your business high over the holiday season.

 If you would like to be considered for a place in the Accelerator starting in January, book a call with me here so we can figure out if it’s a good fit!

 More about the accelerator here.

If you have a suggestion or question for the podcast, let me know by filling out this form.

Can’t wait to see you this week!

PS - connect with me on LinkedIn here!

There is nothing that is going to help you achieve your revenue goals more than breaking down exactly how you are going to get there.

In this episode I am sharing an activity that I use within my Corporate to Coach Accelerator planning days to help my members visualise what getting to their goal looks like. Give it a try and let me know how you go!

If you would like to discuss joining the Accelerator starting in January, book a call with me here so we can figure out if it’s a good fit!

More about the Accelerator here.

If you have a suggestion or question for the podcast, let me know by filling out this form.

PS - connect with me on LinkedIn here!

I love gift guides, but I hardly ever see gift guides for business owners. So I decided to make my own.

These gifts are ways to recognise your efforts in 2024 and invest in what you want to achieve in 2025 – in work and in life.  I hope you like them.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Check out Blinkist
• Consider Kate Merryweather for a LinkedIn Audit
• Bamby Media offer a free audit of your podcast (gird your loins it is honest! And very valuable)
• If you would like to discuss joining the Accelerator starting in January, book a call with me here so we can figure out if it’s a good fit!
• More about the Accelerator here.
• Kajabi is the business tool that just keeps on giving! Here is my affiliate link, we receive a small commission if you sign up using this link.
• com will keep you organised. Here is my affiliate link, we will also receive a small commission if you decide to use it. (To be clear, I will never recommend anything I don’t use and love!)
• Minimal Desk Setups for mindful ways to keep your priorities front of mind.

 Have a great week!

In this episode of the Business of Executive Coaching podcast, I share how I've integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into my coaching business over the past year. With the holiday season providing more time for reflection, I wanted to offer valuable insights for my listeners.

 I discuss my evolving perspective on AI, emphasizing that while my core principles remain the same, the tools I use have advanced. My main guideline is that AI-generated content must retain my unique voice and build upon my existing intellectual property. I believe AI can handle about 90% of the work, but it’s the final 10%—the personal touch—that makes it truly representative of me.

 Key applications of AI in my business include:

1. Writing Assistant: I use ChatGPT and Swell AI to repurpose podcast content into newsletters and social media posts, significantly reducing the time spent on these tasks.
2. Brainstorming: When I need ideas, I turn to ChatGPT for generating topics and suggestions, ensuring my prompts are clear and specific.
3. Research Assistant: I occasionally use AI to gather information, but I advise caution as it can sometimes provide inaccurate data.
4. Feedback and Editing: AI helps me obtain feedback on my writing from various perspectives, enhancing content quality.
5. Audio and Video Editing: Tools like Descript streamline my podcast and video editing processes by removing filler words and allowing easy content modifications.

I also share my curiosity about future AI applications, such as building my own GPT model and exploring tools like Sintra AI, which aim to replace traditional team roles with specialized AI bots.

If you’d like to start small, here is a guide on How to Use AI to Save Time in Your Executive Coaching Business.

Book a call with me now if you'd like to discuss whether the Corporate to Coach Accelerator is a good fit for your business! Book here. 

In this episode of the Business of Executive Coaching podcast, I discuss the importance of reflection as we transition from 2024 to 2025.

I encourage listeners to take time to assess the past year, focusing specifically on what went well in 2024.

 Because coaches can find this deeply uncomfortable (!) I share a few suggestions to focus on the highlights and what went well:

1. Client Sources: Identify where your clients came from and which sources were the ‘easiest’.
2. Highlights Reel: Create a highlights reel of peak experiences from both work and personal life.
3. Positive Feedback: Review positive feedback received throughout the year to identify themes and reasons for praise.
4. Positive Impact: Reflect on the broader impact of your work on clients, organizations, and communities.
5. Handling Challenges: Consider how you navigated challenges and recognize your accomplishments in difficult situations.

What were your successes in 2025? Please send me a DM on LinkedIn and let me know what your reflections and wins were for 2024! You can find me on LinkedIn here.

If you want to focus on your business in 2025, you might want to consider joining my intensive group coaching programme – The Corporate to Coach Accelerator. If you are starting or growing your coaching business in 2025, book a call with me here and we can discuss your strategy, and whether the Accelerator is a good fit for you.

Welcome to the first episode of 2025! Today I’m sharing three key strategies to enhance your coaching business this year.

1. Embrace Experimentation

Adopt a mindset of experimentation in your business. This approach allows you to view marketing and sales strategies as experiments rather than definitive wins or losses. By identifying what to experiment with and collecting data on your efforts, you can learn, iterate, and bounce back from setbacks more effectively. It is also kind of liberating to know that nothing is set in stone!

2. Prioritise Warm Outreach

Warm outreach is crucial for client acquisition. While creating valuable content is important, it’s not enough on its own. Combine your content efforts with strategic outreach to your warmest leads to enhance your marketing effectiveness. Establish a regular rhythm of connecting with your ideal audiences to nurture relationships that can lead to new clients.

3. Increase Your Volume

Many coaches underestimate the volume of leads needed to convert clients. Visualize your sales process as a funnel: the more warm leads you have at the top, the more clients you’ll gain at the bottom. Focus on creating more content, engaging with more people, and being more present in your marketing efforts.

If you are looking to grow your business in 2025, book a call with me to discuss your strategy – and how the Corporate to Coach Accelerator could help.

Help me make the podcast even more relevant in 2025! If you have a question, subject idea or topic – just fill out this form!

This episode is the first in a series of 4 episodes with behind-the-scenes access to courses available to Corporate to Coach Accelerator members. This episode include a lesson on crafting a compelling website (and getting it done!) which is part of the 90-Day Quick Start Challenge - a course within the Accelerator.

Key topics include:

• The significance of authenticity and empathy in your writing.

• How to effectively structure every page on your website (and what they should be!).

• Tips for visual design and the importance of including professional photos.

• Strategies to overcome perfectionism and make progress on your website copy.

If you want to make big leaps in starting or growing your executive coaching business in the next 12 months - book a strategy call now to discuss your business and whether the Accelerator might be a good fit for you.

If you decide to join the Accelerator, mention this episode to receive a bonus month on your membership!

This episode is the second in a series of 4 episodes with behind-the-scenes access to courses available to Corporate to Coach Accelerator members. This episode includes the first lesson from the Business Development Accelerator - a course within the Accelerator.

The lesson includes:

• Core Objectives: Establishing a sustainable marketing strategy that requires just five hours of effort each week.
• Key Principles: Understanding sustainability, the 80/20 rule, and the importance of adapting strategies to fit your unique business context.
• Common Challenges: Addressing fears around self-promotion and the perception of sales, with practical tips to overcome these objections.
• Mindset Shifts: Viewing discomfort as a sign of growth and reframing sales as a service to help others.
• Resources Available: An overview of the support and resources for Accelerator members, including group coaching sessions.

If you want to make big leaps in starting or growing your executive coaching business in the next 12 months - book a strategy call now to discuss your business and whether the Accelerator might be a good fit for you.

If you decide to join the Accelerator, mention this episode to receive a bonus month on your membership!

This episode is the third in a series of 4 episodes with behind-the-scenes access to courses available to Corporate to Coach Accelerator members. This episode includes one of the most popular lessons from my signature course, the Corporate to Coach Blueprint. The Blueprint is a foundational course for anyone looking to establish an executive coaching business. This lesson is all about what assessments you need in your assessment toolkit when working with corporate clients.

In this episode, learn about:

• The 4 categories of assessment I think you should have in your toolkit
• Low or no cost options where your development budget is limited
• How to use assessments with your corporate clients
• Prioritising your investment in certification.

If you want to make big leaps in starting or growing your executive coaching business in the next 12 months - book a strategy call now to discuss your business and whether the Accelerator might be a good fit for you.

If you decide to join the Accelerator, mention this episode to receive a bonus month on your membership!

If you are interested in a stand alone course for coaches establishing an executive coaching business, check out the Corporate to Coach Blueprint.

This episode is the final in a series of 4 episodes with behind-the-scenes access to courses available to Corporate to Coach Accelerator members. This episode includes a lesson from the Business Development Accelerator Framework.

This lesson is all about metrics and measurement, and how to build a dashboard to track sales and marketing activity and outcomes.

In this episode, we cover:

• How tracking key metrics can lead to better decision-making and sustained momentum.
• How to create a customised dashboard to monitor goals, activity, progress and outcomes.
• Balancing quantifiable metrics with reflective practice.

If you want to make big leaps in starting or growing your executive coaching business in the next 12 months - book a strategy call now to discuss your business and whether the Accelerator might be a good fit for you.

If you decide to join the Accelerator, mention this episode to receive a bonus month on your membership!

Book your free runway strategy call here!

This episode is all about the transition from corporate roles to establishing successful executive coaching businesses. I’m pleased to introduce the concept of the "corporate to coach runway," and share my take on what you need to think about and some practical tools for this stage of your business journey.

Here is what we cover:

• Embracing discomfort – as you start your business you must be willing to step out of your comfort zone in areas like marketing and sales.
• Evolving your relationship with rejection – understanding that the process to gaining clients by definition must include (plenty of!) rejection.
• Defining your financial runway - including minimum requirements, buffers and transitional income sources.
• The reality - acknowledge that building a sustainable executive coaching business typically takes one to two years for consistent client flow and income.
• Building a support network – exactly who should be in your custom built business support community.

Plus I’ll share a tool to help you with your business strategy basics before you get too deep!

Runway Strategy Call Offer:

I am also really pleased to offer a free one-on-one runway strategy call, for anyone about to launch their executive coaching business. In this call we will build your personal 3 x 3 runway matrix. In the session we will define 3 potential target client industries or sectors where you have a disproportionate advantage, pick 3 key offers you might consider, and identify 3 potential transition income sources.

If you would like to sign up for one of the limited spots book in here!

In this episode of the Business of Executive Coaching podcast I explore a challenge many coaches face—balancing our need to feel excited and inspired about our businesses, and the need to get sh*t done (quite a lot of it!)..

Too much inspiration without execution? Lack of progress..

Too much action without inspiration? Burnout, and a lack of joy in our achievements.

After 17 years experience as an executive coach, I’ve seen how easy it is to get stuck at either extreme. This episode touches on balancing the two and creating a business that is both fulfilling and financially sustainable by ensuring inspiration and execution work together.

Here’s what we cover:

✨ The Role of Inspiration and Action – Why both are essential for growth and long-term success.

✨ Common Pitfalls – Signs you may be focusing too much on one side and how to correct the course.

✨ Staying Inspired – Practical ways to keep energy and motivation high, from journaling to building a strong support network.

✨ Taking Meaningful Action – How to structure your efforts so they lead to real results.

✨ Inside My Own Strategy Review – What I’m prioritising in 2025 and how I’m simplifying my business focus.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to keep both inspiration and execution in sync, helping you build a business that aligns with your goals and values.

Free Strategy Call Offer:

I’m offering a free one-on-one strategy call for executive coaches looking to refine their business approach. In this session, we’ll clarify your key focus areas and outline a plan to move forward with confidence.

📅 Book your free strategy call here:

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or reply to this email.

Looking forward to next time!

What a treat! In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Rachel Barber, a content marketing mentor and copywriter who helps coaches and impact-driven professionals amplify their voices on LinkedIn.

Rachel’s journey into content marketing began unexpectedly after being made redundant from her corporate role. Instead of seeing it as a setback, she embraced her entrepreneurial spirit and launched her business, Creating Stories. Now, she empowers coaches to show up authentically, build visibility, and attract the right clients through storytelling and strategic content creation. In this episode, we cover:

✅ How to overcome the fear of showing up online
✅ The importance of authenticity in content marketing
✅ Strategies for crafting engaging and consistent content
✅ The role of AI in content creation—when to use it and when to rely on your own voice
✅ Messaging tips for speaking to both corporate and individual clients

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your LinkedIn strategy, this episode is packed with actionable tips and fresh perspectives to help you elevate your executive coaching business.

Connect with Rachel:

🔗 Instagram: Creating Stories
🔗 LinkedIn: Rachel Barber
🔗Rachel’s mentoring program: Find Your Voice

Want More?

🚀 Book a call with me here to see how I can support your coaching business.
🔗 Learn more about the The Corporate to Coach Accelerator
🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn!

In this episode of The Business of Executive Coaching, I explore a critical yet often neglected area of business development—effective follow-up. Many coaches assume they’re following up enough, but in reality, missed opportunities often come down to the a lack of structured and strategic approach to follow up.

The most successful coaches aren’t just great at delivering results—they’re also skilled at nurturing relationships and keeping conversations going. As the saying goes, “the funds are in the follow-up.”

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✨ Why most coaches underestimate the power of follow-up – Breaking the myth that clients will always reach out when they’re ready.

✨ Common barriers to following up – Overcoming fears of being seen as pushy, managing rejection, and shifting your mindset around sales.

✨ How one follow-up led to a major client deal – A real-world example of how persistence turned a “no” into a long-term partnership.

✨ A simple, effective follow-up strategy – Timelines, messaging, and how to follow up in a way that feels natural and professional.

✨ How to stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed – Creating a system that removes the emotional burden from follow-up conversations. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear framework for improving your follow-up process, strengthening client relationships, and increasing your revenue without feeling salesy or intrusive.

Free Strategy Call Offer:

I’m offering a limited number of free one-on-one strategy call for executive coaches looking to refine their client outreach and follow-up approach. If you want to turn more conversations into paying clients, let’s chat.

📅 Book your free strategy call here:

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Connect with me on LinkedIn or reply to this email to share your insights and takeaways. Looking forward to next time!

In this episode of The Business of Executive Coaching we are discussing three key topics that every executive coach faces: pricing strategies, how to follow up effectively after networking events, and integrating free or low-cost assessment tools into your coaching practice.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✨ Pricing strategy for different client types – How to structure pricing for corporates, individuals, nonprofits, and government clients while maintaining profitability and impact.
✨ The right way to follow up after a networking event – Avoid common mistakes and use simple yet effective techniques to turn new connections into meaningful business relationships.
✨ Affordable assessment tools for coaches – The best free or low-cost assessments you can start using today, even before investing in premium tools.
✨ How to collect powerful testimonials – A structured approach to gathering impactful client testimonials that strengthen your credibility and attract more business.

If you're ready to refine your coaching business and get more corporate clients without spending endless hours on marketing, check out the Corporate to Coach Accelerator—a program designed to help you land your next 10 corporate clients with just five hours of marketing per week.

Book a call with me now to see if it’s the right fit for your business.

For more resources, and to connect with me, visit elliescarf.com 

See you next time!