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Coaching is a hot topic these days and I am a little concerned about all the hype. Here’s why! I know how easily the real value of something can get obscured once people start to see dollar signs attached to it.
All of a sudden it becomes a money making opportunity rather than a meaningful service. Then coach training programs start sprouting up like weeds. And inevitably, people start coming up with strategies to shortcut the process while making more and more money from it. Sound familiar?
The real value of coaching
A coaching career, when handled with integrity, brings amazing value to everyone involved, including the coach. It also fills a very real need, one that exists in almost every conceivable area of life. Certainly, those providing this important service deserve to be well compensated for their hard work and dedication. Personally, this is how I earn my living and I am honored to be involved in such a noble profession. So, what’s the problem?
The problem I see has to do with the reasons why so many people are suddenly interested in a coaching career. Let me ask you something. What kind of overall shift in motive is likely to take place when training facilities place more and more emphasis on the potential for six and seven figure incomes from a coaching career? When the primary focus is on money, how does that influence the quality and sincerity of those seeking certification? And how does all this hype influence potential coaching clients?
Above all else, it must be about people
I know some wonderful coaches and there is one thing that they all have in common. They are deeply and sincerely concerned for the welfare and progress of their coaching clients. Coaching is more than a business to them. It is a meaningful way to contribute something of real value and to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Sure they get paid for their services, but their passion for coaching is not based on money. How do I know that? Because most of them spend their free time writing self improvement articles that they make available for free on blogs similar to this one. It is in their nature to help others and the evidence of this is visible in everything they do. Beyond their abilities, which are considerable, it’s that giving quality that makes them great coaches. They truly care!
An appeal to my fellow coaches
If you are a coach or are considering a coaching career, I encourage you to take an honest look at your primary motives. Real coaching requires a personal commitment to helping other people through some pretty big challenges. That means that there is no effective one size fits all approach. Skill is required.
Right now there are dozens of experts throwing around huge income promises to entice you to buy their training. That’s fine because there are a lot of different formats that will allow you to bring your services to your clients. But don’t let the lure of big money cloud your perception.
Value your integrity and theirs
Coaching is about helping real people with real challenges. It is a noble and rewarding profession, but it also comes with a lot of personal responsibility. Your coaching clients need help and they are looking to you to provide it. What they are really doing is putting their trust in your abilities, your reputation, and your integrity.
When one of my clients makes a breakthrough, I get to share their joy. When they experience a personal or professional victory, I get to experience it right along with them. Coaching offers benefits that few other professions can. It’s a chance to make a meaningful and life changing difference in the lives of other people. Let’s never lose sight of that.
