No one necessarily tells you this before you start a coaching business, so I’m telling you now. It can be hard to work from home all day, especially when you work primarily on the phone or online. I discovered this about 18 months in when I realized I didn’t like how things were unfolding.
Unlike those who work remotely from home as part of an organization, coaches and solopreneurs don’t have a built-in group of peers and colleagues. And we need those interactions. As a coach you’re always helping other people; you need the chance to get out and be in other roles – not just the helper or the professional.
I once read in a study that the least effective place to work is sitting at a desk in your office, and I think that applies to a home office as well. We need the stimulation of seeing, hearing and doing different things. We also need to be moving, changing things up physically as well.
I know of one coach whose clients have to walk while they talk to her, even if they’re both on their cell phones – driving doesn’t count, you have to be moving on your own power.
Personally I need to get out of the office and be around people on a regular basis. I’ll take my laptop to a coffee shop and do some work there, or I’ll go for a walk, or I’ll go to the gym. Sometimes I’ll just go and walk around the mall even if I don’t have anything to buy. Being around all that hustle and bustle changes up the energy for me.
What are some other ways you can get out and be around people?
- Join your local ICF chapter. This gives you a group of peers you can be in the same room with to make personal connections. Virtual friends and meetings are wonderful, but they’re just not the same.
- Join a local service group through a group like Rotary International.
- Volunteer in your community.
If you’ve been losing steam in your coaching practice or you feel like something’s been missing, try getting out of the house and changing things up! It sure works for me.
Pace, Space and Schedules