From Corporate to Coaching: Michelle MacLean's Transformative Path and Practical Wisdom

Michelle MacLean's journey is a testament to the transformative power of aligning passion with profession. After a successful 16-year career in public relations, she pivoted to health and wellness coaching, driven by a desire for a more fulfilling and value-driven path. Today, as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and mentor, she dedicates herself to elevating the standards of the coaching industry, particularly in guiding new coaches towards mastering essential skills and building confident, impactful practices. Her experience, rooted in both personal evolution and rigorous professional development, offers invaluable insights into the art and science of effective coaching.

What initially drew you to coaching, and how has your own personal journey shaped your approach as a coach?

I found health & wellness coaching after 16 years in public relations. I was looking for a career that aligned more with my personal values and could bring more freedom than a corporate 9-5 job. I was so excited to learn more about the role that brought together everything I was so passionate about in my personal life. Once I left my job, I vowed to be the become the best coach I could be and that has been the motivation that has shaped the last 15 years in terms of my education and evolution as a health coach. 

Do you have an established coaching practice / business and what is it called? Do you have a coaching niche that you specialize in? What is your website?

Over the last 5 years my coaching took a turn and I shifted directions and am now mentoring new health & wellness coaches. I specifically support them in refining their coaching skills and deepening their coaching process. These were big gaps I was seeing with the new coaches I was working with. I created a course called Health Coaching Essentials and I offer it twice per year which teaches behavioural change coaching basics and offers coaches an opportunity to practice their skills each week to build confidence and competence. https://www.gethealthcoachskills.com/

Did you get certified /accredited by any coach training schools / institutions? If so, which one(s) and what attracted you to their program / accreditation?

I am a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach through the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). This is the highest level we can achieve as health coaches and the gold standard in our industry. I felt since I was mentoring health coaches that it was important to achieve this certification.

What are some common limiting beliefs you encounter in your clients, and how do you help them overcome them?

Many new health coaches have a lot of doubt and fear around their ability to actually coach clients. They aren't sure what to do during a coaching session, they feel they have to have all the answers, they panic at the idea that their clients might not see the value in their coaching, and most of them believe they need to show up as a medical expert. All of these doubts and fears hold them back from launching their practices and doing good work as coaches. I teach a best-practice, evidence-based, behavioural change approach to health coaching that guides coaches every step - from their first discovery call to their last session and everything in between so they can confidently coach any client on any topic with confidence and clarity.

This is your blank canvas for you to write about anything you want to share that’s helped you in your coaching journey, how to be a more effective coach, etc. Feel free to tell your story to inspire our coaching community!

When I left the corporate world, I vowed I'd become the best health coach I could be. Since then I’ve spent close to $25,000 on heath coaching trainings and certifications over the last 14 years. But I always go back to the one wellness coach training I did to get ready for my ICF ACC accreditation that changed the trajectory of my coaching business. In that course I learned core coaching competencies, submitted coaching recordings for review and feedback, then had 10 personal 1:1 calls with a mentor who evaluated my coaching. It was the most valuable thing I’d ever done. Why? Because I got to practice my skills and received personal feedback. And because of this, I gained confidence in my skills and abilities as a health coach. It was a small financial investment that paid back huge dividends. Here’s what I was able to do because of my skills and confidence:

- I launched a group health coaching program that I ran online for five years

- I worked with hundreds of private 1:1 coaching clients

- I've worked for the the wold’s largest health coaching training program for the last 11 years

- I was invited to host a breakout session at IIN’s Live event that featured Deepak Chopra

- I’m part of IIN’s Coaching Intensive Practicum faculty

- I received the credential of NBC-HWC (National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach)

- I’ve coached thousands of health coach students and provided feedback for over 4000 coaching demos That small investment nine years ago is still paying me back today. It’s allowed me to be the best coach I can be, serve my clients, do work that aligns with my values and go to bed at night knowing I made a difference. 

--------------------

As we conclude Michelle's inspiring journey, we hope his story of transformation has left you feeling motivated and empowered.

Remember, building a thriving coaching practice requires the right tools to keep everything organized and efficient. At CoachVantage, we offer coaching management software tailored for coaches like you, making it easy to manage scheduling, track client progress, and streamline your practice. With CoachVantage, you can focus more on delivering life-changing sessions and less on administrative tasks.

Take the next step in elevating your coaching business. Start your free trial with CoachVantage today by clicking the button below and experience the difference it can make!