Lesson 6: Knowledge Check — Building Your Coaching Practice

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate your understanding of niche definition, pricing, onboarding, marketing, and group coaching
• Apply the concepts from Module 5 to realistic coaching scenarios
• Identify gaps in your knowledge before moving to the final project

Instructions

This knowledge check covers all five content lessons from Module 5. There are 10 questions: a mix of multiple choice and short answer. Answer each question fully before checking the answer key at the end.

Questions

Question 1 (Multiple Choice)

What is the primary reason niching is important for a coaching practice?

A. It allows you to charge the same price as every other coach in your niche B. It makes your marketing more specific and helps ideal clients recognise themselves in your messaging C. It limits your potential client pool, making it easier to manage D. It guarantees you will make more money than generalist coaches

Question 2 (Short Answer)

What three circles converge to define a strong coaching niche? Briefly explain each.

Question 3 (Multiple Choice)

A coach charges $150 per session and sells individual sessions one at a time. A new coach in the same niche charges $3,000 for a 3-month package of 12 sessions. Which statement best describes these two approaches?

A. The per-session coach is using value-based pricing; the package coach is using time-based pricing B. The per-session coach is using time-based pricing; the package coach may be using value-based pricing if the price reflects the outcome for the client C. Both coaches are using time-based pricing D. The package coach is overcharging and will struggle to find clients

Question 4 (Short Answer)

Why is underpricing dangerous for a coaching practice? Give at least two reasons.

Question 5 (Multiple Choice)

A new client has just signed a coaching agreement. According to the onboarding flow described in Module 5, what should happen next?

A. Schedule the first coaching session immediately B. Send the client an intake worksheet via CoachSheets magic link C. Send the client a welcome email with no attachments D. Ask the client to write their goals in a notebook

Question 6 (Short Answer)

List the five stages of a high-converting discovery call in order.

Question 7 (Multiple Choice)

What is the single most important reason to build an email list as a coach?

A. Email marketing is free B. Your email list is the only audience you own that cannot be taken away by algorithm changes C. Most coaching clients prefer email over social media D. Email lists are required by the ICF Code of Ethics

Question 8 (Short Answer)

Describe two specific CoachSheets features that can be used to automate the client onboarding process, and explain how each is used.

Question 9 (Multiple Choice)

A coach wants to scale their practice while keeping some 1:1 clients. Which of the following is the most effective strategy?

A. Replace all 1:1 clients with group clients B. Run 1-2 group programs per quarter while maintaining a smaller number of 1:1 clients at premium rates C. Lower 1:1 prices to attract more individual clients D. Stop offering 1:1 coaching entirely

Question 10 (Short Answer)

Explain the difference between a group coaching program and a mastermind. Which format is more suitable for clients who have foundational knowledge and need peer accountability?

Answer Key

Answer 1

B. Niching makes your marketing specific, helping ideal clients recognise themselves in your messaging. While a niche can narrow your potential pool (making management easier), the primary benefit is clarity and conversion, not limitation.

Answer 2

The three circles are:

1. Your story: Your lived experience and personal challenges that give you unique insight and credibility.
2. Your strengths: Your skills, training, natural talents, and professional background.
3. Market demand: Evidence that people are willing to pay for coaching in that area.

A strong niche lives at the intersection of all three.

Answer 3

B. The per-session coach is using time-based pricing (charging per hour of their time). The package coach may be using value-based pricing if the $3,000 price reflects the transformation the client achieves, not just the hours spent.

Answer 4

Underpricing is dangerous because:

1. It attracts clients who do not value the service and are less likely to do the work, leading to poor outcomes.
2. It leads to coach burnout because you must see many clients to earn a sustainable income.
3. It devalues the coaching profession and makes it harder for all coaches to charge appropriately.

Answer 5

B. According to the onboarding flow, after the signed agreement comes the intake worksheet. The intake is sent before the first session so the coach can review it and prepare.

Answer 6

1. Connect (build rapport)
2. Explore (understand the client's situation)
3. Reframe (offer a new perspective)
4. Offer (present your package)
5. Decide (ask for the commitment)

Answer 7

B. Your email list is the only audience you own. Social media platforms can change algorithms, suspend accounts, or disappear. Your email list is a direct line you control.

Answer 8

Two CoachSheets features for automating onboarding:

1. Magic links: Send an intake worksheet to a new client via a unique link that requires no account or password. The client clicks, completes, and submits. The coach receives the submission automatically.

2. Automation rules: Create a rule triggered by "client created" that automatically sends the intake worksheet. This requires no manual action from the coach — the system sends the worksheet the moment the client is added.

Answer 9

B. Running 1-2 group programs per quarter while maintaining premium 1:1 clients is the most effective hybrid approach. It leverages group coaching for scale while preserving the deep relationships and higher revenue of 1:1 work.

Answer 10

In a group coaching program, the coach leads with a structured curriculum, provides teaching content, facilitates exercises, and coaches individual members within the group setting. The coach is the expert and primary guide.

In a mastermind, the group members coach each other. The facilitator's role is to guide the conversation and hold the container, but the primary value comes from peer input and collective wisdom.

A mastermind is more suitable for clients who have foundational knowledge and need peer accountability, because they can contribute meaningfully to others while receiving diverse perspectives from the group.

Scoring Guide

Knowledge Check

Take a moment to reflect: which questions were hardest for you? Go back to the corresponding lesson and review that section before moving on to the final project.

• Questions 1-2: Lesson 1 (Defining Your Coaching Niche)
• Questions 3-4: Lesson 2 (Coaching Packages and Pricing)
• Questions 5-6: Lesson 3 (Client Onboarding and Contracts)
• Questions 7-8: Lesson 4 (Marketing for Coaches)
• Questions 9-10: Lesson 5 (Group Coaching Programs)