Coach Spotlight: Meet Life & Business Coach Stuart Hyslop

We’re excited to introduce Stuart Hyslop, a passionate life and business coach who discovered his calling during the pandemic. With over 1,000 coaching hours under his belt and a commitment to helping clients overcome limiting beliefs, Stuart’s approach is both transformative and uplifting. Join us as we delve into his inspiring story and explore the impactful work he’s doing around the globe!

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

Since 1998, I have always had a calling to help individuals live a better life through inspiring them to improve their skills and knowledge. It was not until COVID in 2020, that I realized that even a simple conversation with someone can help them in their journey of life, regardless of their current position in life.It was was on the back of having these simple conversations that I decided to upskill myself as a coach. I became a Certified Life Coach and NLP Practitioner, and I was also driven by the principles of the book "The ONE Thing," which led me to become a Certified ONE Thing Coach and Trainer.

Fast forward to today, I have worked with clients in 16 countries, trained over 8,500 individuals, and completed 1,000 hours of coaching.The journey for me that lies ahead is simple: to inspire individuals in their personal and professional life, so that we can inspire the people around us.

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?

Yes, Stuart Hyslop Coaching. I focus on productive coaching, life coaching and business mentoring/coaching. My website is at stuarthyslop.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 received my certification as a Life Coach and NLP Practitioner from the Transformation Academy. Additionally, I became a Certified ONE Thing Coach and Trainer through Produktive. Produktive is the company owned by the authors of the book "The ONE Thing".

How did you set up your coaching practice and what challenges / wins have you encountered in the process? Any tips for new coaches just starting out to get their business registered?

My coaching practice is 100% online, and I faced several challenges in the beginning.

1. Dealing with different time zones, accents, and cultures: I overcame this by being fully present during coaching calls and asking questions at the start to better understand my clients.

2. Ensuring clients renew after a set of coaching sessions: I maintained continued contact with clients between sessions and encouraged a referral-based approach to grow my business.

Additionally, I schedule my clients' appointments for the next three months, so they’re already in their calendars.

What online tools / applications / platforms do you use to help you stay focused and streamlined in managing your practice, especially if you’re a solo / small business owner without a big budget for expenses?

A key is a coaching platform with reminders and ease of set up of appointments, integrated with a google calendar so no appointments are missed or double booked.

How do you typically acquire clients / market yourself to grow your business? What has worked best for you and what pitfalls should be avoided?

Acquiring new clients is one of the greatest challenges for all coaches. The simple solution is to ensure that as many people as possible know about you. Ongoing marketing is crucial. Share success stories, host free webinars regularly, and reach out to HR departments at top companies on LinkedIn, offering free group coaching sessions.

Avoid relying solely on paid advertisements. When you depend on spending to attract clients, you’ll find that new clients dry up when you stop spending. Instead, share your services and story in ways that cost you nothing.

What's the most transformative shift you've witnessed in a client thanks to your coaching? Can you share the specific approach or tools you used? For eg, do you use any coaching models or specific techniques?

The most transformative shift I’ve witnessed occurs when a client is on the verge of giving up, yet through coaching, they achieve results greater than expected.

I emphasize a plan of clarity, as clients often feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to reach their desired outcomes. By guiding them through the basics to obtain clarity, my clients have successfully moved from a place of feeling lost to a place of achievement.

Describe a moment where you encountered a coaching roadblock with a client. How did you navigate it, and what lessons did you learn for future situations?

The biggest roadblock I encounter is when a client wants to succeed but does not commit to the necessary actions to achieve their desired outcome. As a coach, I can only hold them accountable for their actions.

In these situations, I’ve found that the path to achieving their goals often lacks clarity. We work together to gain further understanding and, in some cases, identify gaps in their knowledge or skills that need to be addressed to successfully complete their journey.

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

One of the most common limiting beliefs I encounter is the client’s doubt in their ability to achieve their desired outcome. Often, when the goal feels too large, it creates a sense of fear that hinders progress. 

To help them overcome this, I break down the desired outcome into smaller, manageable milestones. This approach helps build their confidence, and before they realize it, we are close to achieving the original goal.

How do you maintain your own self-care and emotional well-being while supporting others through theirs?

I maintain my self-care and emotional well-being by subscribing to various resources and making sure I learn something new every day.

When a coach experiences imposter syndrome, it can undermine their business. This syndrome often stems from low self-confidence, so the remedy is to cultivate a growth mindset. I focus on being excited to learn and, more importantly, sharing what I’ve learned with others.

Fun question… If a magic genie suddenly appeared in front of you and granted 3 wishes, what would you wish for to have a fulfilling career as a coach?

If a magic genie appeared and granted me three wishes for a fulfilling career as a coach, I would wish for the following:

1. To have impacted the lives of individuals from 30 different countries.
2. To inspire individuals without the need for direct coaching or training, whether through my clients sharing their inspiration or by publishing a book.
3. To have completed a live event in 30 different countries.

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!

For coaches, it’s essential to remember that you can only coach what you personally practice. If you share a specific tool with clients, make sure to use it daily yourself.

Additionally, strive to learn something new every day, even if it’s not directly related to your coaching business. Maintaining a growth mindset will provide you with fresh energy and insights.

Ultimately, coaching is not about the money; it’s about helping individuals become the best versions of themselves.

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As we wrap up this inspiring story, we hope you’ve gained valuable insights from Stuart Hyslop’s coaching journey. 

Remember, effective coaching goes hand in hand with effective management. At CoachVantage, we provide coaching management software designed specifically for life coaches, helping you streamline your practice and enhance your client relationships. With features that support scheduling, goal tracking, and progress monitoring, CoachVantage empowers you to focus on what you do best: coaching.

Discover how CoachVantage can elevate your coaching practice and help you achieve your goals by starting your free trial today. Just click the button below to begin!