Meaningful Change

15th October 2015

From time to time I have cause to rethink exactly what coaching is all about and invariably it is a useful exercise to carry out.

The trigger this time was from someone who had agreed that he would benefit from the coaching programme, and then subsequently spoke to colleagues from his industry who immediately assured him that he shouldn’t “waste” his money on me, when they could easily help and advise him anyway.

Naturally the opportunity to avoid spending money is quite an incentive, and so he cancelled our first meeting. However I have spoken to him since, and explained what it is he will get from me, but not from these well-meaning friends.

Yes, no doubt they will be able to point him in the right direction, yes they may be able to put business his way, and yes they will be able to offer positive and probably good advice in many areas. But what they won’t do is work with him over a sustained period, holding him accountable, and making sure he actually does the things they have advised him to do. It is not unusual for my clients to not carry out the actions we agree that they should do, sometimes because they aren’t really sure how to, sometimes because they are too busy doing things they shouldn’t be involved in, but the key is that I won’t let them off the hook until they have done what they know is going to help. Friends or colleagues will make suggestions and offer ideas, but if he doesn’t carry them out they won’t be chasing him!

Furthermore, as a coach, I am working with them to create a business that works without them, and their friends are invariably nowhere near the situation. They won’t have asked him he wants out of life, so their advice will be based on their own goals and beliefs, not his.

So by all means listen to the kind advice which friends or colleagues may offer, but don’t confuse this with the benefits that a business coach will bring you. Meaningful and permanent change for the better.

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