Our main objective here at the National Coach Academy is to enable aspiring coaches to reach their full professional potential. One of the most effective ways to educate students about the world of coaching is by offering them a window into the world of real, practicing coaches and showing them all the different ways coaches make a difference in the lives of their clients.
We hope today’s interview adds another insightful glimpse into the dynamic world of coaching.
Today we are interviewing Savannah McKenzie. Savannah is a Certified Life Coach based in Seattle, Washington.
NCA: Can you describe your coaching practice and the kinds of clients you typically work with?
Savannah: My business is two-fold. I offer one-on-one coaching as well as a workshop series that combines the creative process with life coaching techniques. With my one-on-one clients, I tend to focus on emerging adulthood. People are spending more time figuring out who they are and they’re slower to attain assets, like buying a house, etc. because of economic changes, increased life spans, and a focus on career fulfillment. Emerging adulthood is a phenomenon that is fairly new and that time period is expanding. I also work with clients on anxiety and depression. That’s something that I’ve personally dealt with that I feel I can speak to.
It seems like a lot of the people who are drawn to me are focused on boundary-setting and anxiety management. Whether or not I’ve advertised to those people, they do seem to be drawn to me. It’s cool to see your clientele emerge naturally that way.
My workshop series is a combination of the creative process and coaching techniques. I’ve noticed that the clientele that come to workshops are people in the emerging adulthood period — people in their 20s and early 30s, and women primarily over 50. I think those are the two periods in your life when you’re in a time of change and redefining. In emerging adulthood, you might be looking to settle into a new career, relationship, or a place to call home. If you’re over 50, it might be that your children are grown and in the absence of some of the obligations you had earlier in your life you are looking for a new sense of purpose and direction.
I’m finding that a lot of people are drawn to this creative process during those times of their lives. I’m now offering this series called the Not-So-Ordinary workshop series. I’m interested to see who’s naturally drawn to that as well.
NCA: In working with your clients, what would you say is the most rewarding part of that process and on the flip side of that, what is the most challenging aspect of the work that you do?
Savannah: We all have blind spots, whether you’re a coach or anyone else, and those things can be holding you back. I’ve had clients who’ve come in and within four sessions, their entire life has changed. Not to be dramatic, but you can see someone’s mentality shift. Once they have that mental shift, they can approach almost any obstacle in their path completely differently than they would have even a few sessions before.
Honestly, it’s really rewarding to see people not need you anymore. That can be difficult when you’re trying to run a business but it’s great to see someone really pick up the reins, own it, and say, “You know what? I’m going to work on this.” And over the course of a few sessions, they’ve already got the tools to approach any obstacle on their own. That’s really cool.
One of the biggest challenges is knowing that you’re on the client’s timing, not on your own. You might be ready to coach them, but they might not be in a position to coach with you, whether that’s financially or maybe they’ve moved through that area of their life and they don’t need you right now. You just have to recognize that you’re being of service to them and that’s what’s most important.
It’s about being intentional, truly listening, and responding to what they’re saying rather than attaching your ego to the outcome. Your client might just need a space to speak about something and process it out loud […] The coaching process has very little to do with you and everything to do with your client. If you can just be there for them as fully as possible, they’ll get what they need out of that session with you.
NCA: Can you think of a mentor or a coach in your own career who was the most vital to your success and in what ways did this mentor help you thrive in your career?
Savannah: There have been a lot of people who have informed my path as a coach, but not directly in a mentorship role. I went to University of Washington and majored in Comparative History of Ideas. None of the instructors, advisors, or students knew I was going to become a coach. I mean, I didn’t even know I was going to become a coach. But the warmth, critical thinking, and push for self-development in that department informed my values in my career and in life.
Later when I did find my coaching program through Seattle Life Coach Training, the director, Richard Seaman, was so passionate about being someone of integrity. I think that really helped me feel confident in the coaching realm in general — knowing that I’m doing it from a place of honesty. He expects you to put in the work yourself while you’re there, and it helps you bring integrity to your coaching practice.
In an ongoing capacity, I’m a consumer of everything I can get my hands on—Martha Beck, Jen Sincero, and Brené Brown for coaching information, and people like Marie Forleo and Tim Ferris for business things. I consume everything I can. I keep that ongoing because everything you learn can inform your coaching practice.
NCA: One of the most common challenges new coaches face is self-doubt. Some coaches call it Imposter Syndrome, where early on they feel somehow inadequate to take on the role of coach. What is one piece of advice that you would give to somebody who is in the beginning stage of their coaching career and dealing with these doubts in their mind?
Savannah: I would say just to be present with your client, which is how I was trained by Richard Seaman. He talks a lot about removing your ego from the process and remembering that this is about the client. It can be really hard because you want them to walk away with this amazing life-changing experience, but it’s not your place to offer that. They’re gaining wisdom from their own insight and that can’t be forced.
It’s about being intentional, truly listening, and responding to what they’re saying rather than attaching your ego to the outcome. Your client might just need a space to speak about something and process it out loud, and that might be all that you can offer that person that day.
The coaching process has very little to do with you and everything to do with your client. If you can just be there for them as fully as possible, they’ll get what they need out of that session with you.
