An Interview With Chad Silverstein
Language Has to Be Specific and Tangible: The concept of “niche” is outdated. The more effective way to find clients is to make sure you are clear and specific on the problem you solve and that it is completely tangible.
The world of coaching is undergoing a seismic shift, with emerging trends set toredefine its boundaries and possibilities. From digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence to the growing emphasis on mental health ad the global rise of coaching cultures within organizations, these developments are reshaping the landscape of personal and professional growth. As we navigate through these changes, understanding the forces that drive the future of coaching becomes paramount. I had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Walker.
With over 25 years of coaching experience, Amanda Walker is truly the “coach’s coach.” Amanda employs her background in teaching to help coaches cut through the noise, build offers that convert, and implement masterful frameworks that transform business success. Amanda’s work has been featured in publications such as Forbes and Today Online, and on podcasts like Cubicle To CEO and more.
Thank you for joining us. To start, could you share your “origin story” with our readers? How did you begin your coaching journey, and what challenges did you face in the early days?
My first ever paid job was coaching. I was hired by a local YMCA to coach pee-wee basketball. While it was more about herding cats, it was my first taste of seeing the power of impacting a life, giving feedback, and watching your pupils take feedback and put it to use. I have spent the rest of my life coaching in some capacity: I became a high school teacher, coached educators, and coached CrossFit and other group fitness until I stumbled into entrepreneurship when I left my teaching job.
I knew I had skills and a passion, and it easily transitioned into a business helping others. My coaching business began as a health and nutrition coach. Over time, people started asking me how to build their own coaching businesses. I had zero business experience — no sales or marketing — so I built a business on service and learned as I went. I knew how to deliver results while keeping the client at the center of my work. More than business acumen, these skills and values have become the foundation of my success and they’re principals I coach constantly.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Grit: Believing in the end vision and never giving up, even on days I cried and wanted to throw in the towel.
- Curiosity: You have to practice not making assumptions, but rather getting curious about what’s working and what is not, and using that information to move forward.
- Vulnerability: sharing a level of human-ness and imperfection so clients truly feel understood and that deep “she gets me” level.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
My mom always reminded me: “There is something to learn from everyone.” That has never been more true than in entrepreneurship. I’ve loved being a beginner throughout the journey of starting and growing a business, and I believe a willingness to do that is very tied to long-term success. You can, in fact, learn something from everyone.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
We are working on a limited series podcast called “How to Find Clients” and have been launching our Small Bite Offer Method. I am creating both to help coaches understand the current landscape of the industry. My goal is to help them learn how to build trust in a skeptical world and decrease the sales runway so they can get clients faster and create the impact they truly desire.
Without saying any names could you share a particularly memorable success story from your coaching career?
I remember my discovery call with a particular coach. She was a new mom, had a husband in the military, and possessed a truly amazing passion and unique skill set. At that time, she was driving to a Starbucks to meet clients, charging $25 an hour, and paying for childcare for her three kids. She was making less than minimum wage at the end of the day. Her dream was to be able to pay for her kids’ private school education, which was about $1500 per month. Once she came into my world, we shifted her business to work from home, restructured her offerings, and helped her gain confidence. We simply laid a very solid foundation for a sustainable business. She recently shared that she will cross the 6-figure mark this year and create financial freedom for them that they never dreamed of. It makes my heart so happy for her.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview about coaching. How has your approach to coaching evolved over the years, and what personal learnings have you applied to your own development?
Truthfully, my coaching practice started with only online email coaching. It made sense for me because I had two toddlers at home, and I could give feedback to my clients via email while my kids were occupied or after they went to bed.
I quickly felt the limitations of that approach — no real-time feedback, and it limited my ability to dig into root cause work. This is when I began diving into behavioral adherence, expanding my coaching toolbox of modalities, and moving my coaching to Zoom so I could coach live. I built my practice from a 1:1 coaching model to full group sessions and hybrid courses.
From a physical model, it’s shifted so much.
Over the years, you begin to really understand that the most successful coaching happens when the client is in the driver’s seat, not the coach. The best coaching unfolds through inquiry, allowing the client to find the answers for themselves. In the beginning, in all transparency, I feel like my ego drove the ship a bit, and I wanted to be the “guru.” That doesn’t serve anyone. Instead, I learned to coach myself to be neutral and approach each session with a strong sense of curiosity. I am often asked, “How do you just know what to ask or say at the right time?” and I credit that to letting go of my own ego and leaning into curiosity.
How do you incorporate feedback into your coaching practice to continuously improve?
I welcome feedback in so many ways. In coaching sessions, I weave it into the closure of the call to identify the greatest takeaways and value. When we host coaching implementation intensives, we collect feedback via forms that ask questions about client results and experience. In both 1:1 and group coaching experiences, we also ask for feedback midway through the coaching container to help guide the future client journey and results. I also work intently on creating a safe and empathetic space where clients feel it’s extremely co-created, and they give feedback very openly about what they need or what truly created breakthroughs for them.
Can you discuss an innovation in coaching that you believe is currently underappreciated but has the potential to significantly impact the field?
It’s very simple: LIVE, REAL-time implementation. We are not in an information shortage; we are in an implementation shortage. Our clients are paying us for three things: accountability, proximity, and implementation. The latter being where they need the most support: how do I take my learnings and transformation and weave them into my everyday life? I think this is a very overlooked “innovation” and necessary for long-term change.
In what ways can coaching address the evolving mental health needs of diverse populations in a digitally connected world?
While I appreciate therapy and identify many potential great uses for it, I do feel that the coaching model offers two elements that can collectively serve mental health needs more effectively. Coaching is future-driven. The goal is to equip the client to achieve a future solution they desire. What it is not is a continual revisit of the past. Now more than ever, our clients need support in moving ahead and being present in their daily lives. I also believe coaching offers consistent and real-time support and feedback. Past mental health service models often involved weekly or monthly sessions, and in between those, clients had no support. Coaching fills that gap by consistently meeting the client where they are to gain real-time support and guidance.
How do you foresee artificial intelligence and machine learning transforming the coaching industry in the next decade?
As coaches, we can’t get left behind. While I think AI is and will be a valuable tool for learning “how-to” content, I don’t think it will replace “how-I” content. What I mean by that is that clients will continually be inspired by stories of transformation and want to know how people did it. They want to be seen and heard, and AI won’t offer that level of empathy or human connection. People will always desire connection with people; it’s how we are wired.
What role do you believe ethical considerations and privacy concerns will play in the future of coaching, especially with the increased use of digital platforms?
For me, I believe we have an obligation to protect our clients, and a brand or coach’s reputation is at stake if they don’t consciously protect this agreement. Coaches who develop a stricter set of ethical guidelines for themselves and their teams, along with a high level of professionalism, will stand out over time and gain trust with their client base.
Could you list and briefly explain “Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching” based on your experiences and insights? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
- Credibility is non-negotiable: We need to see proof that you are who you say you are, and your client results and case studies should be woven through everything you do in order to stand out.
- Create a front-end trust-building offer: The trust recession has created skepticism. Coaches with a front-end way for potential clients to try out their coaching and experience the results you can get are critical to building a consistent client base.
- Use Verbal and Nonverbal Rapport to Stand Out from AI: It can be challenging to discern between AI and a real human. We have to hear you and see you. It’s what builds authenticity, credibility, and a fast track to trusting your offers.
- Build Your Proprietary Coaching Framework: Generic methodologies aren’t enough. We need you to leverage your lived experience and combine that with your academic knowledge to develop a methodology that is unlike anybody else, allowing you to stand out.
- Language Has to Be Specific and Tangible: The concept of “niche” is outdated. The more effective way to find clients is to make sure you are clear and specific on the problem you solve and that it is completely tangible.
How do you envision the integration of coaching within organizational cultures changing the landscape of leadership and employee development?
I have the honor of coaching with corporate clients, and I believe leadership is shifting away from an authoritative model to more collaborative coaching environments. That means internal relationships are the key to productivity and the bottom line. Coaching is no longer just for top executives. Organizations are recognizing the value of offering coaching opportunities at various levels, tailoring development plans to individual needs and goals. This can include internal coaching programs, peer coaching initiatives, and access to external coaches for specific development areas. Data shows us that when employees feel invested in their learning and personal growth, they want to stay at organizations and retention is higher. Coaching is a key element of that.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the coaching industry today, and how might we overcome it?
Trust. We are in a trust recession. Our clients are skeptical because they’ve been burned by coaches who haven’t followed through on their delivery. They are oversaturated with information. It’s critical that we find ways to shorten the runway to trust to move potential leads into clients. Ways we can do this are weaving social proof into everything we do, lowering the barrier of entry for clients to work with you and get them a quick win so they want more, and sharing more behind-the-scenes vulnerability to build human connection and differentiate yourself.
What is one long-term goal you have for your coaching practice, and how are you working towards it?
My long-term goal is big: to help one million coaches serve one thousand clients. It’s all about impact. We host a podcast to help increase our reach and offer programs that are accessible. I am personally working on sharing my message on as many podcasts and speaking platforms to support coaches who are turning their dreams into a reality.
How can our readers continue to follow your work?
Podcast: www.amanda-walker.com/podcast
Instagram: @awalkmyway
Thank you for offering such valuable insights into the future of coaching. We look forward to seeing your work continue to reach new heights, and we wish you continued success.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience as a Founder and CEO. While attending Ohio State University, he launched his first company, Choice Recovery, Inc., a nationally recognized healthcare collection agency — twice ranked the #1 workplace in Ohio. In 2013, he founded [re]start, helping thousands of people find meaningful career opportunities. After selling both companies, Chad shifted his focus to his true passion — leadership. Today, he coaches founders and CEOs at Built to Lead, advises Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator.
Amanda Walker On The Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.