Business coach Shawn Johal talks with Melinda about having the confidence to be direct and transparent, putting the client’s best interests ahead of your own insecurities. As coaches, we need to show up on our client’s team with honesty and insight.

Author and business coach Shawn Johal is the founder of Elevation, a company that helps entrepreneurs scale their businesses while finding personal balance. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• Common challenges and solutions for coaching business owners and executives.
• Working with teams inside a business.
• When to trade your coaching hat for your consultant hat?
• What to do if a client is not working out?
• How to have tough conversations without fear of losing a client.
• How to direct a client’s focus back to the objectives.
• Incorporating soft skills training into your coaching.
• How self care affects your ability to show up for your clients.
• The importance of courage and confidence in your coaching business.

“It’s actually quite a big challenge when the owner isn’t truly open-minded, or willing to have the rest of the group participate strategically. I would say that is the number one problem.”

Shawn Johal

Shawn co-founded DALS Lighting, an LED lighting business, in 2009. He implemented the Scaling Up Growth System and led the company to 3X its revenues well into the 8 figures. Shawn went on to found Elevation, a Scaling Up coaching firm, where he works with entrepreneurs & their teams to help accelerate their growth while helping them find personal balance and happiness.

He is a Certified Scaling Up coach and the author of The Happy Leader, a leadership fable about transformation in business and in life. He provides a “Happiness Roadmap” for his readers and clients, teaching them how to achieve both happiness and success.

Former President of EO Montreal (Entrepreneurs’ Organization), Shawn remains an active member & mentor to numerous young entrepreneurs, helping them improve as business leaders and as individuals. A Finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Shawn is also the Board Chair for “Champions for Life,” a nonprofit foundation helping children develop their physical literacy.

Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:
Mirasee
Coaches Console
Shawn’s website
Shawn’s LinkedIn
Shawn‘s book – The Happy Leader
The book Shawn mentions – Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Credits:
Guest: Shawn Johal
Host: Melinda Cohan
Producer: Cynthia Lamb
Executive producer: Danny Iny
Scripted and assembled  by: Michi Lantz 
Audio Post Supervisor: Evan Miles, Christopher Martin
Audio Post Production: Post Office Sound
Music soundscape: Chad Michael Snavely
Making our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio

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Music and SFX credits:
Track Title: Clouds
Artist Name(s): Acreage
Writer Name: Marshall Usinger
Publisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONS

Track Title: Coastline Dream
Artist Name(s): Wild Sky
Writer Name: Adam Simons
Publisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONS

Track Title: Coo Coos
Artist Name(s): Dresden, The Flamingo
Writer Name: Matthew Wigton
Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Track Title: Stars & Trees
Artist Name(s): Outside The Sky
Writer Name: Dustin Ransom
Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION