Business professionals often seek the guidance of a coach when they want to improve something about their careers, their performance as leaders or their business as a whole. For a coach, there’s no better feeling than watching a client succeed after working closely with them to achieve their objectives.
Sometimes, a client’s success is so impactful that it influences a coach’s overall approach to their practice from then on, giving the coach inspiration to continue assisting others. Here, 14 members of Forbes Coaches Council discuss their No. 1 client success stories.
Forbes Coaches Council members share their most notable client success stories.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.1. She Found The Confidence To Land The Job She Wanted
One client wasn’t sure if she wanted to apply to become the director of her department. By the end of our coaching session, she felt confident and clear that this was the right next move. I was thrilled to receive the news that she got the job. Her insight: “Once I made the choice to believe in myself, in my potential, the emotion followed, and I felt totally confident during the interview.” - Fabiana Mariano Green, Lead in Life
2. She Found The Root Of Her Fear And Turned It Into Her Power
As a public speaking coach, I often help people overcome their fears. One of my talented clients had severe anxiety triggered by speaking in front of others, which held her back from many business opportunities. During a few sessions of deep inner work, we found the root of her fear and turned it into her power. She is now a confident, inspirational speaker who helps others overcome their traumas. - Sonia Maslovskaya, SoniaMPower
3. He Found The Inspiration To Try To Change The World
I strongly believe that coaching has the power to change the world for the better. Coaching one client allowed him to go through a personally transformative process that ignited him to start a charity called The UOcean Project® 2050. The aim of this organization is to remove 1 billion kilos of plastic from the world’s waterways and oceans. My hope is to make the world a better place, one coaching session at a time. - Dr. Rakish Rana, The Clear Coach
4. They Turned On Their ‘Inner Sunshine’ And Self-Awareness
A client once said to me, “You’ve helped me turn on my inner sunshine.” This has become my raison d'être now! Helping clients turn on that inner awareness and connect with who they really are—to turn on their inner sunshine so that they can bring light into every challenge or opportunity and be who they are meant to be in this lifetime! - Ruchi Shah-Mehta, Big Impact Coaching
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
5. He Moved From ‘Ego’ To ‘Higher Self’ And Got Promoted
An executive was about to be demoted or let go. He was perceived as not open-minded, autocratic in style, and more of a micro-problem solver than a facilitative leader. We did a 360 review, and his perception of himself was much higher than others. The focus became moving from “ego” to “higher self” with a clear mindset and behavioral changes. Within six months, he changed his reputation and is being promoted. - Mark Samuel, IMPAQ Corporation
6. He Changed His Opinion And Saved Himself And Others
I coached an activist journalist in the early aughts when HIV/AIDS was ravaging his country. He was HIV-positive yet suspicious of taking antiretrovirals. His writings influenced his country’s people. He changed his opinion and saved himself and many in his country. The essential element was caring about my client—my training kicked in, and the best coaching skills emerged from that caring. - Felice Tilin, GroupWorksConsulting LLC
7. He Navigated Every Possible Worst-Case Scenario
Helping a CEO navigate the pandemic of 2020 through January 2022 was a major achievement. This individual was met with every possible worst-case scenario while managing a company of 11,000 employees. If it was challenging to navigate, he experienced it. I partnered with him every step of the way, and charting these new norms together taught me the importance of patience and compassion—which are things I focus on more these days. - Joshua Miller, Joshua Miller Executive Coaching
8. He Landed A Director Position Sooner Than Expected
I enabled a client to land a director position within six months after being told that it was unlikely he would achieve it in a year (and that the company was looking externally). I now only work with clients who are willing to take responsibility for their development and take every opportunity to learn and grow. Consequently, I no longer work with others who judge, blame or critique other people or the system. - Sandra Pinnington, The WLA (Women Leaders Association)
9. She Nearly Tripled Her Business In One Year
My No. 1 achievement with a client as a professional coach was helping a small business owner nearly triple her business in one year. I helped her see that social media is no longer optional when it comes to growing your small business. Once she accepted that, we leaned in with my training to help her get three times more referrals than she did the year before. - Jessica Stroud, She RULES
10. He Bounced Back Into A COO Role And Was Then Appointed CEO
Always believe in the talent and potential of a client. One of my clients was an experienced CEO in financial services who lost his job for lack of governance on his watch. He was very down when I met him and felt that, at 41, he would never work again. Our program got him a new COO role, after which he was appointed CEO of a financial services firm. Never give up and always believe in the talent your clients possess! - Richard Chiumento, The Rialto Consultancy
11. She Landed A Huge Contract, Moved And Could Do The Work She Loved
While I generally work with executives, one of my clients was an artist who struggled to sell her work. Within six months, she landed a seven-figure contract, moved closer to her parents and was able to do the work she loved. The solution was to change her perception of her customers while preserving what mattered most to her. You don’t have to sacrifice pieces of yourself to create a meaningful impact. - Lisa Marie Platske, Upside Thinking, Inc.
12. He Eagerly Made Changes And Improved His Health
Instead of calling me his coach, my client (a doctor) now calls me his life mentor. I have seen his health improve due to his eagerness to change his life based on the many recommendations I suggested, such as to reduce work hours and start body-mind linking exercises such as yoga and mindset coaching. I now feel more eager to help others as a coach and mentor. - Able Wanamakok, Find Your Voice Asia
13. He Launched A Business Immediately After Serving A Prison Sentence
Helping a client launch his business immediately after serving a prison sentence (which was ultimately overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court) influenced my approach to coaching. Things that seem improbable or out of your direct control need to be kept in perspective. Deal with the circumstances you can control, as planning for your future is paramount regardless of your situation. - Jarret Patton, DoctorJarret PLLC
14. They Reached Their Fullest Potential And Impacted Their Workplace
Some of the most outstanding achievements for me as a professional coach have been helping my clients reach their fullest potential, create an impact in their workplace and nurture a psychologically safe environment where their people fearlessly run experiments and embrace empiricism. Leadership took the path of evidence-based management to navigate through the complexity. - Nagesh Sharma, Flowsphere India Private Limited
