The Worst Advice

Just when I think that I’ve heard the worst business advice from coaches who coach coaches, I hear one that makes my hair curl.   I’m not anti business, although trained as a counsellor I have a lot of interest in entreprenership and the principles of running a business that is congruent with my own values. I’m kind of a marketing geek, I find it fun but the people I work with need to market in a way that is really in line with who they are and what they believe.

From my perspective a lot of coaching coaches is about telling people what they want to hear; like quit your job, or raise your fees, or make a client make a committement on the phone, the list goes on….but today I was listening to a webinar and heard the WORST most unethical piece of advice I have ever heard given to an up and coming coaching professional.

A woman asked the well known coach if she could only afford to buy one of his products, because she had already spent ALL of her money and maxed out all but one credit card, should she buy the Coaching program (i.e. learning the skills of coaching) or should she buy the program about how to sell a client on her services.  He said to her, buy the product to learn how to sell someone on your services and then when you have his money learn how to be a coach!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you friggen kidding me?  Wow.  I mean I really liked my coaching program at Erickson College but never have I been so grateful for their ethical and comprehensive approach to working with clients.  Thank you to Marilyn and the gang for never forgetting that the work is about the client; their needs; wishes and desires; not about the coaches need for making more money in less time. www.erickson.edu

In the coming weeks and months Francoise (www.compassionfatigue.ca) and myself are going to put together more resources for people who want to run values based businesses.  There is no need to starve or not be paid well for the good work you do, but people, let’s not forget that this is supposed to be about THEM right? www.dreambigstartsmall.com

O.k. this is kind of a rant, but I hadn’t written for a while and was inspired today.