How to Make Coaching Less Lonely AND Grow Your Business

Are You a Coach Who Works With Young People?

Maybe you’re an academic coach, executive function coach, ADHD coach, educational therapist, or some other kind of edupreneur. You’ve started a private practice for educators, and now you’re trying to find clients.

Recently, I talked about the single most important and successful way I’ve built my own academic coaching business: relying on relationships with other academic coaches who send me referrals when they’re full. If you watched the video at the top of this post, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Today, I want to talk about three different ways I’ve created those relationships with other coaches in my own practice. My hope is that you can use these same approaches to build a sustainable, relationship-based business of your own.

Three Ways to Build Relationships with Other Coaches

1. Cold Calling

This may be the most important option—and it may also be the hardest.

Cold calling, in this context, simply means reaching out to other coaches you don’t already know. You might start with people in your local community if geographic proximity matters to you (and yes, I still wonder if “locality” is the right word). You can also reach out to coaches who work with the same age group, a slightly different population, or a complementary type of client.

Many of these folks aren’t physically nearby, but they’re out there on the internet. Do a little research, find people whose work you respect, and reach out with a genuine invitation to have a coffee chat or phone conversation if they’re open to building new relationships.

This approach takes courage, but it’s one of the most direct ways to build a referral network rooted in trust and shared values—especially if you work with neurodiverse learners and want alignment around how you support them.

2. Start a Support Group

This is exactly what I did.

I started my own support group more than 15 years ago, long before I had any idea how to market myself or grow an executive function coaching practice intentionally. I did it because I was incredibly lonely. I was working by myself out of my home office—also known as my apartment—and I needed companionship.

As I was cold calling other coaches, I invited some of them to meet once a month at a coffee shop. One person who joined ended up going on sabbatical for a year and sent a huge number of her clients my way. It was a massive boost to my business.

Just as importantly, I wasn’t lonely anymore.

Because we met only once a month, it was manageable even with busy schedules. Each of us benefited in multiple ways: emotional support, professional brainstorming, and referrals that felt natural rather than transactional.

3. Join a Group

This is an excellent option if you don’t have the energy or desire to start something from scratch.

I happen to know a strong example because I created it: the Anti-Boring Learning Lab. It’s a space where educators, academic coaches, and executive function coaches gather regularly, learn together, and—yes—refer clients to one another.

There is one important caveat. If you join a community and stay quiet, people don’t know what you’re especially gifted at doing. And if they don’t know that, they don’t know who to refer to you.

When you show up to community calls, generously share resources, ask thoughtful questions, and openly request help, people get to know you. Over time, that’s when referrals start flowing—often from people who deeply understand your strengths.

If you’re curious about what the community feels like, you can explore free opportunities and resources through the Anti-Boring Learning Lab Visitor’s Center:
https://antiboringlearninglab.com/resources

That’s a low-pressure way to get a sense of the culture and see whether it’s a good fit.

Of course, I’d love for you to try option #3. But you can absolutely use option #1 or #2 on your own without spending any money. And if you find yourself thinking, “I want to do cold calls, but I’m too scared,” you’re not alone. There is a very specific, teachable process for reaching out to people you don’t know in a way that feels human and respectful. Surrounding yourself with other coaches can make that much easier to practice and refine.

If you try any of these options, I’d love to hear how it goes. You can leave a comment or send me an email.

Wishing you the community of your dreams.

A version of the following article was originally published here on October 21st, 2022.