Coaching Success Story: Michael Lopez

Michael is a coach to companies, leaders, teams, and individualsseeking to improve performance throughtransformation.Michael has delivered results for clients across multiple industries and business models. As astudent of “the human industry” Michael uses his experience in, and passion for, the science and practiceofbehavior change to design innovative change strategies. He brings a diverse leadership style forged from ablend of business, civil service, military, and athletic experience, which he uses to accelerate performance forleaders and teams of all types.

Most recently, Michael worked at Prophet Consulting. Before this Michael spent time as a Managing Director atboth KPMG and EY, after 13 years with Booz Allen Hamilton. In addition, Michael spent two years as theDirector of Innovation & Strategy at Smiths Interconnect, a global diversified industrial products company. Hebegan his career as an Intelligence Officer in the US Intelligence Community. Michael earned his MBA from George  Mason University and his BA from Occidental College.

As a former college athlete, Michael is a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance Leadership Council and remains engaged with sports as a youth and high school football coach.

Website: https://www.michaeljlopez.coach/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-lopez9/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeljlopez9/

Michael Lopez audio 
00:03
Question
Please share your name, title, location, and your business name.

00:09
Michael Lopez
My name is Michael Lopez. I'm a author, speaker, consultant. I, uh, live here in Sacramento, California. And, uh, my business name is really just Michael J. Lopez Consulting. But, uh, uh, I'm a solopreneur, though I have a number of business relationships that help me deliver, deliver large transformational projects for clients, uh, all over the world, really across industries.

00:36
Question
How long ago did you answer the call to coach?

00:49
Michael Lopez
Well, it's. I've been a coach in various capacities my whole life. Uh, I coached so sports for years. And so while that's not exactly what we're talking about, I think the, the coaching orientation, I was, I was sort of raised by great coaches as an athlete. Uh, I coach kids and young adults from a pretty early time after my football playing career was done. So I've always had a coaching orientation. And then during my consulting years with other companies, I think my kind of coaching led style always lended itself to the way I delivered for clients. But it was really just in the last two year and a half when I started my own company that I finally got my formal coaching certification. So, uh, it's sort of a long, uh, overdue, um, process to kind of really formalize what I think has been a pretty natural orientation for me for most of my life.

01:47
Question
When did you go through Laurel's program?

01:52
Michael Lopez
I started last year. So I started my company in October of 2023, and I started with them in, uh, January, December, right after I, you know, went through. And I just went through the sort of ACC certification for the first level. You, uh, know, coaching is a what I'd call a feature of my business. It's not my core business. I tend to do larger consulting projects. I do a lot of speaking. I just released a book, so that's kind of path that I've taken. So it was important for me to have the formal skill set. And so I started with the acc. We'll see where I go from there. But, um, that's where I landed.

02:34
Question
What do you feel contributed to your success in the coaching profession?

02:43
Michael Lopez
Uh, well, I think it's really a couple things. I think my own experience being coached by great coaches is a big part of that. And again, it started As a young athlete, just having coaches that took an interest in me, that maybe they were taking a different approach in the context of a team sport. But understanding the role of a coach, the role of feedback, the role of perspective, the role of great questions, um, the role of expectations, all of that I think has just such been a big part of my, my identity, my personality. And so, um, you know, I think then translating that into the work I do for clients, it's, you know, the power of a great question and helping people, um, in their own journey. You know, it's one thing to hire a consultant to, to tell you the answer, but in a lot of cases in the work that I do, which is very transformational in nature, um, I want people to find their own answers because I know that, that we own what we create. And when I come up with the idea, meaning the client, when the client comes up with it, they're uh, more attached to it, they're more committed to it, they're more likely to implement it. And so my job's always been to build a framework around people for them to discover their own insights and creations. And so, you know, I think I just learned that in many ways by trial and error. And then, you know, as I went through the program, I actually learned a lot of new stuff that I should have been doing the whole time that I never knew about. So it was really great timing.

04:14
Question
Looking back, how did your training at the Institute shape your success?

04:21
Michael Lopez
Well, like I said, I think the first and most important thing was, um, I learned some really important skills that I was probably, um, faking more than anything or maybe doing without a real understanding of why I was doing it. And so I think the providing a more solid modern day coaching foundation was just really, really critical. Um, the other thing it did was really raise my awareness about when I had my coaching hat on versus when I had my consulting hat on. And you know, there's times for each of those. And I think I'm much more deliberate now about when that is and how I'm showing up. So I think it added a lot more, um, intentionality to the work that I do. Uh, and then I think it just, you know, a lot of people out there call themselves coaches these days and there's a, there's a coach around every corner. And while I think that's great, generally speaking, I think there's something to be said for people who've earned the certifications and the, you know, gone through the training to credentialize them to really serve that role. I worry sometimes that people call themselves a coach, but they don't really know what that means. So for me, those things have been just very much, um, a return to basics kind of, um, skill set that's amplified what I was already doing and made me even more effective in the role.

05:46
Question
How do you think the training at the Institute really gives you that advantage over the people that just call themselves coaches?

05:59
Michael Lopez
Well, I think a lot of people, number one, they call themselves coaches. And I get hit up by all these people all the time, or I see them on Instagram and all these places. Um, number one, I think those individuals have a framework in mind that is more about telling the client what to do than about helping the client uncover their own insights and wisdom. And so it's, uh, you know, they have a program is what it really is. They're not a coach. They're. They're. They're selling a program. And, yeah, look, maybe that program's perfectly fine. But I think that's the first big distinction is, you know, coaching is about helping people discover, not about telling them the answer. And so I think that's a, That's a really big distinction. Um, I think the second thing is there are some real behavioral skills that you need as a coach, um, in terms of listening, in terms of questions, in terms of holding space, in terms of understanding the, you know, the hierarchy of what people are experiencing in their different circumstances. And, you know, I think for a lot of coaches, if you've never had that, you. You don't maybe know what to look for. Um, you don't really understand maybe what that individual is going through. You know, if I'm a fitness coach or I'm an. I'm a nutrition coach or I'm know, pick your coach, everyone's got a. Got an angle. Um, you know, you might not have all of that other training that wraps around it. Um, and I think the last thing I just mentioned that, you know, a lot of coaches have a. They have an angle, you know, maybe an area that they're specializing in. And again, I'm not saying that in a disparaging way, but I think, you know, a real coach doesn't need to be an expert in your problem. They need to be an expert in the fundamental skills of coaching, in which case we can, um, we can apply it to anywhere in your life. And so I think that's just a distinction that I see quite a bit.

07:50
Question
How does it feel to be a successful coach?

07:53
Michael Lopez
I mean, it's like, uh, it's just like raising your kids right when they, when they do something that, that, um, that reflects their growth in the, in the journey that they're on, you know, those are tremendously rewarding moments. Um, and uh, you know, I still, it's funny, I still have, in every coaching call or even in client sessions where I'm leveraging my coaching Persona, I always walk into it with a bit of butterflies. Like, I don't know where this is going to go and how this is going to go. But when you get to the end and you see that individual in whatever way that they've managed to gain enough insight to take them to the next step, you know, that really does, uh, it feels good in terms of what, you know, they're experiencing. It feels good to know that you've been a part of that. Um, and so for me, it's just really that those small moments of independence, of growth, of wisdom that come from people who have done the hard work of kind of exploring whatever it is that may be going on for them in their life.

08:59
Question
What do you think is your secret sauce while you're coaching?

09:05
Michael Lopez
Oh, my secret sauce. Um, um, I think, uh, I can be a little bit provocative at times in the sense of, um, being willing to maybe nudge or give direct feedback. And I don't mean like insensitive feedback, but direct feedback. Um, maybe what I'd call m. Uh, uh, maybe a more challenge oriented approach. Um, as someone who lives with an athlete's mindset, I always believe that on the other side of your struggle is, you know, a version of you that, that you just can't wait to meet. Right. And so I think I've always been willing to break the rules a little bit and, and help people, uh, move in ways that might be uncomfortable but really, really important. So I've always been willing to kind of do that. I do that for myself. So, um, you know, sometimes I, I'll, uh, at least label it, you know, hey, can I offer a suggestion? Uh, can I be a little bit provocative? Can I, you know, offer a challenge so that I'm at least letting people know that, that that's my orientation. But, um, I think it's just a part of my own DNA that if I didn't do it, it wouldn't be authentic to me either. So that, that comes out from time to time.

10:23
Question
What advice do you have for someone considering entering the coaching program profession?

10:33
Michael Lopez
You know, I think, um, the first thing I think is to, is to view it really as a, um, as an act of service. And, and certainly we get paid, we're making money. I'm not suggesting it's, you know, charity or philanthropy, but I do think if you're a service oriented human being, then, then coaching is something that might really resonate with you. Um, that would be the first principle. I think the second principle is to be willing to practice and understand that it is a skill set that you need to continuously, uh, participate in and grow yourself. Um, it's not just about setting up calls and kind of listening and asking occasional questions. You know, it takes an emotional energy that you should be thoughtful and diligent about. And so I think it's, it's, it's not just a label, right? It really is something, uh, that comes with more than that. You know, I think the other thing we talked about it in a bit plain speak is there's a lot of coaches out there and there's a lot of people selling the easy button and there's a lot of people with slick social media and all these things that, that really cater to, I think many people's natural reaction to follow the shiny object. And I think if you're a coach that's really focused on doing the hard work, it's sort of, um, it's not glamorous all the time. Right. It's a lot of starting small, it's a lot of dealing with smaller problems. You're not coaching the CEO of company XYZ right off the bat. You're sort of building up into that. Uh, and so I think it's about patience as well and understanding. Um, and then maybe the last thing I'd say you mentioned it is, um, I know when I went through the program, you learn certain fundamental skills and do's and don'ts and those are important. But I think it's also about finding your own style in the coaching experience and knowing that, uh, you've got to be authentic too. Right. And what does that look like? Are you someone that has the ability to push or you want to tweak a little bit of what you do. And that comes through repetition and trial and error and getting it wrong sometimes and all of that. So I'd say that's the other thing is don't be afraid. Make it your own in the ways that are still resonant with the core principles of coaching, but authentic to you. And that's, that's part of the fun.

13:00
Question
What would you tell someone who's watching this and unsure of taking the next step?

13:11
Michael Lopez
Uh, well, I mean, I think, you know, I would. I would ask someone who's a coach what their experience has been like. Um, and I think that's a great way to start. Certainly, uh, the folks from. From, you know, our program were really generous with their time in terms of answering questions, reaching out to programs, interviewing them. Um, you know, there's. There's a lot of new programs now. I didn't know about this one until I kind of found it through another resource. And so, uh, you know, there's a lot of places to go get really high quality training. Um, and there's different price points for that. And so I think it's asking questions, doing your homework, reaching out to a coach. And, you know, then the other thing I'd say is it's. It's also a bit like a good liberal arts degree in the sense that you may decide you don't want to coach as a primary profession. But like me, the skills are translatable in so many ways in your life. And so, uh, even if you just think about it from the standpoint of how can I learn to be a better listener, how can I learn to be more empathetic, how can I learn to hold space and ask good questions to be better for the people around me? You know, I mean, you'll never regret that investment in yourself. And so, um, I really view it as. It doesn't have to be your career. It can just be a really strong foundational skill set that serves you in so many other ways.

14:35
Question
What is one word that describes your experience as a successful coach?

14:46
Michael Lopez
Rewarding, uh, really has been. I think I said it earlier. It's just been great to, um, give to folks in ways. Um, and let's be frank. I mean, I, you know, you. We get something out of it when we know we've helped somebody, right? We get the. The. The butterflies and the dopamine hits and all those things that go with the satisfaction of a job well done. But, But I think when you hear somebody say, thank you, um, for helping me through that experience, um, you know, that's what it's all about. So I think rewarding has been the best word to describe it.

15:22
Question
What programs are you offering that you'd like to share?

15:43
Michael Lopez
Yeah, um, I, uh, I've just released a book. Uh, it's called Change 6 Science Backed Strategies to transform your brain, body and behavior. And you know what's funny is in the back of that book, um, there's actually a chapter I talk about three questions that'll change your life. And they are questions much like my coaching orientation. Right. It's, it's about the power of a well placed question and then your ability to really, um, answer that honestly. And you know, the book is about the science of change and what happens to us when we set goals and pursue goals and give up on goals and start again and all of those experiences. And I think for me, you know, I would ask people if they're interested in coaching or in change. The, the concepts are very applicable, um, because it really is, you know, coaching is about giving people and uncovering the tools for their own growth. And they're growing because they're either struggling with something they want to stop or pursuing something they want to gain. Right. And that's all about change. And so I would say, um, please check out the book. It's available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, all the big places. You can find a link to it on my website. Um, there's a workbook that goes along with that, that's a great coaching resource as well to do kind of right along as you read the book, you can write down some goals and kind of use some of the frameworks in. But, um, yeah, I would just encourage people to take a look at that. Uh, you know, I do have a few coaching clients as well that I take a handful of and I'm always open to talking to people if they're looking for a coach. Um, I sort of do it on the side, maybe a bit more of like individual work. But, uh, it's work that I want to keep doing. Uh, and so if someone's interested in that, we'd be happy to reach out. There's a million ways to contact me. You can schedule 15 minutes on my website and send me an email and all that stuff.

17:35
Question
What is the best way for someone to find you?

17:39
Michael Lopez
Yeah, so my website is a great place, Michael, uh, J. Lopez coach. All of my social links are on there. Um, I'm pretty active on LinkedIn. I'm active on Instagram.

17:52
Michael Lopez
I now have a YouTube channel, Michael J. Lopez Nine, which has, um, some videos that I've been doing. I've started a Little podcast on LinkedIn every week. Um, with some other folks in the Top Voice community which I'm a part of. So, uh, yeah, starting with the website's an easy place to branch out. Um, if you search on LinkedIn, I'll be easy to find. And uh, same with Instagram and that sort of thing. I'm not as active on X, um, Facebook. Uh, I am a little bit more of my kind of life altogether. But uh, yeah, those are great places to start and, and uh, I would encourage you to go there.

18:28
Question
Anything else that you want to add?

18:32
Michael Lopez
Just want to say thank you to the folks in the program and uh, to all the instructors and my classmates and really, um, you know, it is a program where you give to each other and it's only possible because of the work that those folks do. So. Super grateful. It uh, was a great experience and just want to say thank you.