How Coaches Offend Clients (And How Not To)

1. Bringing up fees to early during the first session. No one rnwants to feel like you only see dollar signs when you look at them, and rnannouncing your fees before you have even exchanged pleasantries is rnthe fastest way to make your potential client feel undervalued. The rncorrect time to mention fees would be at the end of your first free rnsession together, after you have gotten to know your them and how rncoaching could help them. The exception to this rule is if the client is rnthe one who brings it up, then do not stall as you are worth every rnpenny. Remember: To charge too little makes your services and skills rnseem cheap.

2. Being late for a call. If you have a session scheduled, show up rnand be in “coach mode” (calm, centered and ready to listen.)

3. Not following up with a card, call or email after they have rnsigned on with you. Following up will help your client feel valued as rna client. Even a simple “glad we will be working together” is all that is rnneeded.

4. Over-advising. Everywhere people turn advice is being given out-generally unwarranted and unwanted. Thus people have naturally rndeveloped a defence system that goes up when advice (no matter how rngood) is coming their way that has not been asked for. To avoid this rnpitfall, ask insightful questions that will lead your clients to the self rndiscovery of the advice they need.

5. Not listening. This is the no-no of coaching. Misunderstanding rnyour client may often also be interpreted as not listening.
There are two steps to take to avoid this:
Step 1: Concentrate on what the client is saying not on what you are rngoing to say next.
Step 2: Repeat and reiterate what your client has just told you back to rnthe client. This ensures you are both on the same page.

6. The client wants a “quick fix solution” from you and is upset rnthey are not getting one. Avoid this by explaining during your first rnsession exactly what coaching is and is not. Emphasize the self-discovery aspect of coaching.

7. They do not feel valued as a client. Avoid this by answering rnemails and returning their calls in a timely manner and rereading the rnnotes from their last session with you before engaging in a rnconversation with them (this shows them you remember who they are rnand what goals they are working on).