Free Yourself From the Pressure of Niching

There's so much pressure from lecturers, coaches, and business gurus to 'narrow down' your own niche.

But with so much knowledge and training to actually get the qualification, this can become a real issue for newly qualified Nutritionists, and in some cases it's the block that stops Nutritionists from getting going.

So how can you free yourself from the pressure of niching, start helping people and get going? 

Enter the T-shaped nutritionist, the ultimate blend of specialism and breadth.

What is it?

Imagine a T. The vertical line represents your deep expertise in a specific area of nutritional therapy — it can be gut health, menopause, autoimmune or anything else that you really love to deep dive into. The horizontal line represents your broad capabilities across various health issues you are trained to help with. You’re not just an expert in one area; you’re trained to support the whole person. 

The above example is my own T-shaped scope of practice, you can change yours to suit you.

Why is being T-shaped so awesome?

It’s like having the best of both worlds:

• Specialism: You have depth and expertise in your chosen field, making you a sought-after nutritionist
• Versatility: You’re not confined to a single health concern or avatar. Your broad skillset and knowledge allows you to tackle diverse health challenges with confidence.
• Collaboration: You speak the language of other wellness professionals, opening up more collaborations to reach more people.
• Adaptability: The ever-changing health and wellness landscape holds no fear. Your broad skillset allows you to adapt and thrive in new and emerging healthcare issues.

How do you cultivate and create your T-shape?

• Define your horizon: Brainstorm a list of issues/areas that you are comfortable working with. (It's also useful to write down which health issues you don't want to support)
• Nourish your core: Dive deep into your chosen area of expertise. Focus your CPD here, and immerse yourself in the latest trends.
• Connect the dots: We are taught to look at the whole person. Actively seek opportunities to apply your broader skills alongside your core expertise. This will help you forge stronger connections between your various knowledge areas.
• Never stop learning: The nutrition world is a constant learning journey. Embrace curiosity, stay up-to-date with the latest trends, and never shy away from new challenges.
• Communicate: Create 'content buckets' for your horizontal list, and your chosen area of expertise. You will see that they all overlap. Start sharing content that lets people know what problems you can help with, while shining a spotlight on your area of expertise using testimonials and case studies.

The T-shaped Nutritionist is a force to be reckoned with:

More opportunities are available to Nutritionists who can support more people. So, embrace the T, hone your skills, and watch as your nutrition business takes off!

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

Just like nutritional therapy isn't a 'one size fits all', your T-shape will be unique to your strengths and interests. Find what ignites your curiosity, delve deep, and watch your nutritionist superpowers blossom.