How to coach when you are tired

Coaching can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience, but it can also be exhausting. As a coach, you are conducting your coaching sessions, running your business, doing the scheduling, the chemistry calls, the rest of your life… and all of this requires a lot of energy and effort. There will be times when you find yourself feeling tired and drained, making it difficult to coach effectively. In this blog post, we will explore some strategies that can help you coach when you are tired.

Take care of yourself

The first step in coaching when you are tired is to take care of yourself. This means getting enough rest, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in physical activity. When you are physically and mentally healthy, you will be better equipped to handle the demands of coaching. Make sure you are taking breaks throughout the day to rest your mind and body. Personally, I am terrible at taking breaks! My fitness watch has helped. It reminds me to move every 50 minutes and that has been quite helpful.

Simplify your coaching approach: use Solution Focus!

When you are feeling tired, it may be helpful to simplify your coaching approach. Focus on clients’ strength and progress. If your attention is on the strengths and development of your clients rather than their weaknesses and problems, you will only be working with competent people. That is much more fun than working with problematic clients who never get anything done.

Be honest with your clients

If you are feeling tired, it may be helpful to be honest with your clients. Let them know that you are feeling a bit drained, but that you are committed to helping them achieve their goals. This can help to build trust and rapport.

Stop coaching if you cannot

When you are feeling tired, it can be tempting to tune out or lose focus during coaching sessions and you may also start focusing on what is going wrong more often that is helpful. At least my world always looks more dreary when I am tired. If your ability to coach is impacted to this extent, maybe cancel the session.

Seek support

Finally, it is important to seek support when you are feeling tired. This can mean reaching out to a colleague, supervisor or mentor for advice, or it may mean taking some time off to recharge. Remember that coaching is a demanding profession, and it is okay to ask for help when you need it.

In conclusion, coaching when you are tired can be challenging, but it is not impossible. By taking care of yourself, simplifying your coaching approach, being honest with your clients, stopping coaching if you cannot and seeking support, you can continue to provide effective coaching even when your energy levels are low. Remember, coaching is a marathon, not a sprint, and taking care of yourself is key to success in the long run.

If you want to explore how you can be resilient with your practice or just hang out with a bunch of friendly likeminded people, why not join one of our weekly meetups?

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