Mistake #61
PROMISING TOO MANY RESULTS TO THE CLIENT
You have no control over what your customer will get, not get, or resolve. You simply cannot promise any results at any time.
It is better and safer to say what other clients have gotten from your Coaching or to extract from the client what the client plans to get from your Coaching than to sell the results of your Coaching.
Under-promising makes the client take more responsibility for their own coaching success.
Mistake #62
TALK ABOUT OTHER COACHES
Two warnings: First is to gossip about other Coaches and second is to give your opinion (negative or positive) about other Coaches.
It is best not to comment on other Coaches. It's not professional and the other Coach will find out.
It's bad for the profession too.
Mistake #63
DO NOT SEED FOR MORE COACHING
Many clients come to the Coach with a single goal or problem in mind and often end the Coaching once it has been achieved or resolved.
I am always “on the lookout” for new goals, skills, changes that I feel the client would love and benefit from, and I make mention of it long before the client reaches or solves their initial goal or problem.
This is good service as well as good selling.
Mistake #64
STAY BEHIND CUSTOMER NEEDS
The main reason a client fires their Coach is because the Coach has fallen behind in terms of the client's needs.
Better to always be one step ahead of the client:
• Highlight next focus point
• ask big questions
• Start stimulating conversations
• Train the client in new skills
• Space the goal
• Challenge the client's way of thinking and their paradigms.
Mistake #65
ASSUME THE CUSTOMER IS READY FOR SUCCESS
Human beings have limits and ceilings on many things:
Love, money, happiness, success...
You can work to move and expand these boundaries, but do it directly (as a primary focus) with a client instead of assuming they'll do it themselves and be fine.
Also, it is essential that you work with the client for 2-3 weeks to help them define what success means to them. Without this critical information, the value of coaching is quite low, even though it is highly effective.
Mistake #66
OVERPROTECT THE CUSTOMER FROM LIFE
Some Coaches are so concerned about their clients' downfalls that they don't encourage them to take risks. This stops customers.
Clients have been handled well before you showed up.
Point out these risks and help the client reduce risks but encourage them to engage with life and discover and create new things because that is what it means to be Human today!
Mistake #67
GIVING LEGAL OR INVESTMENT ADVICE
This is both illegal and unethical.
Each Coach should have 5 legal specialists and 5 financial specialists to refer their clients.
Never, ever give legal advice, even if you've been in that situation before and know what you're talking about. You don't have a license for it.
Never, ever give financial advice or even share how you manage your investments. You don't have a license for it.
It's not worth the risk. Just don't say anything.
Mistake #68
CRITICIZE YOUR CUSTOMER
You can be honest and direct without criticizing your client.
Customers like you, they're human, and they're doing their best, even when they're not.
And remember, it's HIS life and not yours.
It is better to ask and challenge your client to do things differently than to criticize their weaknesses and choices.
You can learn to be unconditionally constructive.
Mistake #69
AVOID UNDERLYING INTEGRITY ISSUES
The client may want you to help them work on sweet goals or pressing problems, but before you jump in, find out what else is going on that may be sabotaging or blocking or limiting the client's life and potential for success.
Point this out with the client and see if you'll work on the underlying integrity stuff as well as the fun, greedy, and urgent stuff at the same time.
Remember, when the customer's needs are met and integrity is strong, results flow to the customer.
Mistake #70
LET THE CUSTOMER CHASE CHIMERAS
Part of the Coaching process is to help the client to let go of seductive goals and chimeras that have been distracting and diverting them.
Your first step is to discern between dreams and mere fantasies and help the client to let go of chimeras in order to free that space and energy to achieve the goals that will provide the quality of life that the client deserves.