In the guide below, you’ll discover what a productivity coach is, who they tend to work with and how they can help you.
As an experienced life coach, I’m familiar with the coaching techniques used by these professionals and the results that people get from using them.
I’m excited to share these with you and help you decide whether productivity coaching is right for you.
So, let’s find out!
#1 What Is A Productivity Coach?
A productivity coach is an individual who works with people and helps them to develop more productive habits.
#2 What Does A Productivity Coach Do?
A productivity coach will usually work with an individual one-on-one, either face-to-face or via online calls. Although it’s common that the advice given helps the clients to improve their habits immediately, the coaching relationship will often last for several months or years, until the client feels they have reached peak productivity levels.
Even then, a client might choose to keep their coach on board if only to have someone that holds them accountable.
The first step taken by a coach is usually to help the client define their goals and identify the hurdles preventing them from being at their most productive. This isn’t always a simple task. Sometimes, it will need several sessions of open-ended questioning and active listening.
Once a client’s goals and hurdles have been identified, they can start focusing on techniques to help them jump these hurdles and successfully reach their targets.
We’ll explore some of these techniques below.
#3 When Do You Need A Productivity Coach?
Honestly, everyone could benefit from working with a productivity coach (unless they have somehow already achieved all of their personal and professional life goals).
However, the individuals who actually choose to work with a productivity coach are those who could stand to earn a lot of extra money by being more productive. Examples include: business owners, authors, artists, content creators, coaches, professors, consultants, engineers, programmers and attorneys.
It is also common for dangerously unproductive people to seek help from a coach. Perhaps they’re underperforming as a student or in one of the careers mentioned above. Maybe they’re dealing with severe stress, ADHD or another mental health condition. A productivity coach will be more than capable of helping people in these situations.
However, a productivity coach is not the same as a therapist. There are some mental health conditions that productivity coaches are not qualified to treat. Your coach will make it clear if this is the case.
Also, if you don’t have an inherent desire to be more successful, it’s no use working with a productivity coach. They can give you the tools to work more productively, but these tools have to be fueled by your own hunger for success.
#4 How Does Coaching Increase Productivity?
Productivity coaches are equipped with a broad range of useful techniques to help you become your most productive self.
The techniques they use will be based on your individual struggles, and this is why there will be a lot of questioning during your initial coaching sessions.
Here are some of the key ways that coaches will help you throughout your productivity coaching program.
- Identifying mental blocks. A lot of clients aren’t aware of why they are so hopelessly unproductive. A coach will help them to assess and identify unconscious mental blocks.
- Finding your motivation. A lack of motivation is a common destroyer of productive habits. A coach will work with you to discover what truly motivates you and inspires you to live a more productive life.
- Goal-setting. When you have inspiring short-term and long-term goals that you perceive to be attainable, it becomes a lot easier to develop that daily va-va-voom that drives you towards them. A productivity coach will help you set goals that truly light a firework up your ass.
- Exercises to improve your focus. Poor focus doesn’t always stem from poor motivation. A productivity coach will be equipped with dozens of exercises to help you improve your focus. This could even include tweaks to your diet and exercise routine.
- Tips on organisation and time management. Better organisation can lead to more productive days. A coach will be able to deliver tips to help you become more organised, including time management techniques for prioritising the most important tasks in your day.
Related: 7 Best Focus Coaches & Ultimate Guide
#5 Different Types Of Productivity Coaching Techniques
Here are some examples of productivity coaching techniques that your coach may share with you.
- Pomodoro technique. A time management exercise, which encourages you to work without pauses for 25 minutes, then take a five-minute break. Do this four times in a row, then take a longer break. In spite of its simplicity, thousands of people swear by this technique. It helps you to get more done, by warding off stress and mental fatigue.
- The Perfect Day Exercise. It’s as simple as it sounds. When working with a productivity coach, you’ll be asked to envision and perhaps write down your idea of a “perfect day”. With a clear idea of this, the two of you can work together on a plan to make days like this happen more often. Eventually, you’ll be working towards a “perfect life”. This “perfect day” – and the steps needed to get there – act as a reward that motivates you to get stuff done.
- Lifestyle changes. Studies show that changes to your diet and exercise routine can have a major impact on productivity. Your productivity coach will be able to suggest attainable shifts to your lifestyle to reduce stress, allow you to work harder and improve your life overall.
#6 Benefits Of Productivity Coaching
If you make an investment in productivity coaching, you can expect to:
- end procrastination and get more done every day;
- develop true clarity over your weekly and daily priorities;
- become more sure of your short-term and long-term goals;
- become a master of organising your thoughts and ideas;
- develop fantastic time management skills and feel more in control of your life;
- get more done and make more money with your business;
- create more time to do the activities you want in life;
- eliminate feelings of not being enough and feel a higher sense of self-esteem
- reduce everyday stress;
- feel more energetic, both physically and mentally;
- communicate more concisely and effectively;
- inspire others to act more productively;
- enjoy incredible success in various areas of your life.
#7 How To Become A Productivity Coach
The coaching industry is self-regulated, so if you want to start a new business as a productivity coach tomorrow, you’re free to do so.
Realistically though, you will need to get some credentials under your belt to stand out from your competition and make your productivity coaching career a success.
I would highly recommend that you study to get a life coaching certification. This will teach you all the skills needed to excel as a productivity coach – and you will also give yourself the option to branch into a new form of coaching in the future.
#8 Productivity Coach Certification
It’s widely accepted that certification programs accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF) are the best for you to get.
These are renowned as the most comprehensive certifications and the most difficult to obtain. If you can make the effort to get one of these certifications, you will most certainly be prepared for anything your new career as a productivity coach can throw at you.
Most people searching for a coach will be aware of that too.
Here are six of the best ICF-accredited coach certifications to take.
#9 The Best Productivity Coaches
- Tim Ferriss. Tim Ferriss is best-known for his book ‘The Four-Hour Workweek.’ He shares useful productivity tips on his blog and on his podcast, which is frequently listed among the most popular business podcasts on iTunes.
- Michael Hyatt. Michael Hyatt is one of the world’s most celebrated authors in the productivity field. His books include: ‘Free To Focus’, Your Best Year Ever’ and ‘Living Forward’. His new book ‘The Vision Driver Leader’ helps business leaders to focus their efforts and energise their team.
- Chris Bailey. Chris is most famous for writing ‘The Productivity Project’ – a worldwide best-seller. His new book ‘Hyper Focus’ is a practical guide for mastering what you concentrate on.
- Stephen Aartsol. Stephen is the CEO of Tower, a lifestyle business which encompasses several successful brands. Yet, it would appear that he’s not the typical ‘work until you drop’ CEO. After all, the most notable mark he made on the world of productivity coaching was his new book ‘The Five-Hour Workday’.
- James Clear. His book ‘Atomic Habits’ will help you reach your goals by making small changes to your daily habits. He has also created a great online course called ‘The Habits Academy’.
- Simon Sinek. Although Simon is more widely known as a leadership coach, a lot of his work focuses on how to inspire other people to work more productively. If you are a business owner or even if you manage a small team, I’d encourage you to read his book ‘Start With Why’. He also has a podcast and runs online classes.
Any more questions about productivity coaching?
I hope you enjoyed this article and that you now understand how a productivity coach can help you reach incredible success with your business and in your everyday life.
If you have any more questions about what it’s like to work with a productivity coach, feel free to get in touch by leaving a comment below.
I will be happy to answer!
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