A Challenge Every Coach Faces… and what to do about it

As coaches and mentors, how much are we "diagnosing" our clients' problems through the lens of the tools/skills we possess?

And by doing so, while we are offering a solution, are we in a way limiting our clients’ possibilities?

When I was working on my Sacred Money Archetype Coach Training, I interpreted many things that came up for my clients through the lens of money mindset. When I was getting my Fear Releasing Method certification, seemingly every problem's root cause was fear.

While my clients were getting great results, I felt we might not have seen the problem in its entirety if I were to stick with just one particular tool or method.

We are all human. Having a point of view is inevitable, and probably desirable (especially if you are looking to position yourself uniquely in the marketplace.)

The challenge comes in when the nature of a coaching or mentoring relationship somewhat puts us in a position of being an “authority” (again, it’s not a bad thing. From a marketing perspective, we want to be seen as an expert or an authority. From a coaching perspective, clients DO want to be lead to a certain extent.)

Which means OUR point of view is going to impact the clients’ decisions and actions, therefore, the outcome.

(We don’t have to look far… I have worked with many clients who had hired business coaches or taken those $1,997 or $3,997 programs only to find themselves being squeezed through an “agenda”, and spat out of the “guru factory line.” They got themselves into the “niche pickle,” building out business structure and going down a rabbit hole they have no business to be in.)

We can probably guide our clients to achieve an outcome that is “desirable” from an objective point of view. The questio
I want to pose is whether that is an outcome that serves THAT particular client best? Is it most aligned with his/her core value, identity, beliefs etc.?

Here are a few thoughts on how we can mitigate this challenge:

1. Cultivate Awareness

Let’s start with the assumption that there is no way around the fact that we have our own point of view.

The first step is to cultivate the awareness that we do bring our own filters into a coaching/mentoring relationship.

Our clients probably hire us because they resonate with our point of view and that’s why they want our guidance.

However, I believe when we are expressing our own opinions we can make it clear that it is our point of view and thus just one way to approach their challenges.

Our role is to expand our clients’ thinking and help them see their challenges from different perspectives, instead of (unintentionally) steering them into one particular decision or action that stems from our perspective.

2. You Are Not Your Trainings and Certifications

A lot of times the way we approach a problem is determined by our skills and the tools we have at our disposal.

“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

It is important to not to let the “tools du jour” drive our coaching conversations.

Instead, what is the bigger message that drives your work? What is the identity you want to inspire your clients to take on? What beliefs you want to instill in your clients so they can achieve their goals in alignment with what’s true for them?

From there, what tools and methods can you apply, for your clients’ greatest good instead of a self-gratuitous way of using a tool just because you paid money to learn it?

3. Lead with a Deeper, Bigger Message

Maybe it is about exploring a deeper message, so when we approach a challenge with a client, it's not about finding a tool-driven solution but a identity/belief-driven solution that can encompasses multiple approaches and perspectives.

This may mean, for many of my multi-passionate and multi-talented peeps, is to gather all their skills, experience, talents, superpowers and ideas, tap into their beliefs and conviction, to device a cohesive message that transcends individual skills and tools.

By doing so, it gives you the framework and allows you the freedom to choose what new skills you want to learn, and what tools you want to add to your toolbox, without having to “redefine” what you do every time, or look like a Jack-of-all-trades.

This framework also acts as a filter so you can avoid the Bright Shiny Object Syndrome, and invest your time, money and effort on what truly matters to YOU.

By having this ONE cohesive message, you will not only be able to give your clients a more inclusive and expansive container to grow and explore, but you will also create more powerful marketing communication because of the clarity, conviction and confidence you achieve in your business.