	Article Directory		Article Submission Service		Article Marketing Blog		Publishers		Member Log In

Article Directory :: Self-Improvement/Motivation Articles

7 great ways to fail your coaching clients every time...and how not to!

By Nick Bolton

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 18Jan2009
Word count: 761
Viewed: 231 time(s)

Get Free Content For Your Site

So, you have your coaching client and you're ready to help them achieve their goals and dreams.

But how can you fail them every time? Well, of course, you don't want to!

But looking at it from this angle gives a new perspective on the mistakes that coaches so often make and helps you see how to avoid them.

1 - Treat the session as a pleasant chat

Coaching, far from being a pleasant chat, should have a purpose in mind. Find out what success would be for the client when they finish the session and the coaching programme. Ask yourself what success from the session is for you.

Coaching should have direction and an outcome. When it becomes a pleasant chat you fail your client.

Solution: Be clear what success looks like for each and every session

2 - Don't challenge the client - that's your agenda not theirs, isn't it?

As coaches we are taught that it's all about the client's agenda. That's true but there is also a coaching agenda that needs to happen. Building from the first point, the coaching needs to achieve its goal and that often requires rapport-based challenging of the client to move forward.

Solution: Start to challenge your client and realise the you are doing them a big service!

3 - Work out the solution for your client in your head - then strategize to the max!

Strategising is how we try to get our way without being open and honest about what is going on. In coaching this reveals itself in the way a coach subtly directs a client down a certain path with the questions. The coach thinks they know how the client should handle their issue and fails to really explore the range of options.

Solution: Keep an open mind and ask questions which allow the client to develop the way forward

4 - Don't whatever you do expect success - you'll only be disappointed!

In fact, your belief in the client is critical. Many times clients will not do what they say but that is a time to explore motivations, values and hurdles. Any expression of doubt, however, subtly communicated will only strengthen their feelings of inadequacy or inability to succeed. Your belief on the other hand will create a powerful sense of possibility.

Solution: When you have doubts about your client, blank them out and focus on how you will help your client progress

5 - Get frustrated that they are doing the same old thing - change the record!

People can take a long time to change old habits. As a coach this can seem frustrating and make us feel as though we are failing. In fact, we only fail when we allow that frustration to effect our coaching. Stick with the client during the change process helping them to reach success.

Solution: Learn about models of change to gain a better understanding of human behaviour

6 - Assume that your way of doing things is also theirs It's all too easy to think that we all do things the same way. We often assume that our way of making a decision is the same as everyone else's and that anyone not the same is the exception. In fact, there are so many different ways of making decisions, understanding ideas or becoming motivated that we can't possibly know what will be guaranteed to work for a client. Allow the client to tell you their preferred way by questioning them.

Solution: Instead of you deciding how the client can make a choice or generate motivation, ask the client what method works for them and use it

7 - Give advice - it's OK really if you sneak it in

The old chestnut: this little bit of advice won't go amiss. The very essence of coaching is that the client finds their own answers and solutions. Why? Because they are far more likely to follow them through and learn valuable lessons that benefit them. Even so, the temptation is to slip the occasional bit of advice. Coaching is all about learning and empowerment and even if the advice works, where does that leave the client when you are no longer there.

Solution: If you think you have some advice write it down, put it in your pocket and forget it!

If you follow the guidance in this article you will be sure to create far more posiitve outomes for your coaching clients. Whatsmore, as a coach you will be sure to gain great satisfaction that you are achieving all that you trained for: helping people succeed.

Next step: If you found this article useful, why not go to The SMART School blog at http://www.coaching-and-training.co.uk About the Author: Nick Bolton is the founder of The SMART School of Coaching based in London. He is passionate about creating great coaches with real, practical skills. He has coached individuals and groups for over eight years and mentored many trainee coaches through accreditation.

EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here