Even coaches can succumb to mindset traps when starting a business.

Even though we study mindset, we understand mindset traps, and we can see them in our clients, that doesn’t mean we’re immune to them as a coach.

As you know, your mindset (i.e., the way you think and what you think about) directly impacts your growth.

This is why it’s so important to pay attention to your own thoughts, feelings, and actions on a regular basis, so you can make sure you’re doing the inner work that you encourage your clients to do.

5 common mindset blocks that arise when you start a coaching business

Working with coaches and healers for the past several years, I’ve found these five mindset traps to come up again and again when starting and growing their businesses.

Mindset Trap #1. Shiny object syndrome or FOMO

Everyone around you is starting a podcast/launching a course/posting about this on Instagram, should you do it, too?

Stop. Wait. Keep your eye on your own business. If you get easily distracted by the latest shiny object, consider cutting back on social media or unsubscribing from some email lists.

Recognize that have your strengths, strategy, and gifts as a coach. Focus on building your business using your strengths and talents, and don’t worry about what other coaches are doing.

Mindset Trap #2: Self-doubt or Impostor Syndrome

It’s easy to doubt your coaching abilities when you don’t have clients knocking down your door.

And it’s common to feel like an impostor when you are the new kid on the business block. But don’t let these fraudy thoughts deter you.

When you find yourself thinking “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t belong here,” realize that these are self-defeating thoughts, and not the truth.

When you feel caught in a self-doubt spiral, write down your negative thought, and ask yourself, “How true is this?” Realizing that a thought is just a thought and not necessarily the truth can remove its power over you.

Mindset Trap #3: Thinking you “should” know how to do this

Even if it seems like every coach around you knows what they’re doing, remember we all start somewhere.

You’ve likely never started a business before (and even if you have, you’ve likely never started a coaching business), so all of this is new to you.

You don’t know what you don’t know. But when you are willing to adopt a growth mindset, you become less judgmental about yourself and more focused on learning.

Don’t be afraid to be a beginner and if you need help, consult a coach who can help you on your business journey.

Mindset Trap #4: Not allowing yourself to fail

Listen, everyone fails in business. In fact, the phrase “Fail Faster” has become an important phrase in entrepreneurship.

By failing, you discover how to succeed. So if you’re waiting until something feels perfect to launch, realize that will never occur.

Instead, you must consciously choose to move forward, be willing to fail, and realize that your failures don’t have to mean anything about you.

They are simply a necessary stop on the road to success.

Mindset Trap #5: Thinking there’s only one way to do something.

The truth is, there are a million business coaches out there selling you “their” way to succeed. And if it’s worked for them, great! But it doesn’t mean it’s the only way.

In my experience, the best way for you to succeed as a coach is to create a business that’s in alignment with YOU: with your values, strengths, and goals.

Just as you are unique, so is your business. The more you can honor yourself while building your business, the faster you can experience your definition of success.

As a coach, your mindset is a huge factor in your success

As a coach, you support your clients with becoming aware of their mindset and how it influences their success. Give yourself the same support.

The more you can become aware of your own mindset traps when starting your coaching business, the easier it will be to navigate your journey.

If you want support in cultivating the mindset to run a successful coaching business aligned with who you are, check out my offerings here.