Do any coaching? Listen up.
I recently had an issue come up with one of Lunches
with Fred. I screwed up on the dates and had to make
a change. With my schedule, this sometimes happens. I
know that it can be an inconvenience and I always
offer the people who signed up some good options.
So I get this email from a guy who had signed up for
a recent lunch in NYC. He had been VICTIMIZED by
my having changed dates. I felt bad, but had to do it
because of an emergency.
He writes me an email telling me that because of my
“lack of administrative competence” or some such
language that he not only wanted his money back
from the lunch, but that he would “not be using me
as a coach/mentor.”
He was concerned that this might be a reflection on
my coaching ability. Interesting leap on his part, but
more importantly, it brings up some interesting points.
1. He was unaware that I don’t run an “OPEN” coaching
program. His “considering” using me as a coach was
not a one sided process. For me to pursue a coaching
relationship, there are some MANDATORY steps that
precede that relationship.
First, he would have to pay and attend a Fred Info
Bootcamp. Only after attending would we BOTH be
in a position to determine if we were a good match.
Second, he would have to pay me money to get started
IF we both felt it was a good match.
2. He did not understand how important it is to me that
I work with people I LIKE. His lack of understanding
as it related to my having to postpone the lunch indicated
to me that we were NOT a good match.
Why work with someone who is going to start bitching
about an issue as trivial as this? I won’t do it!
So enough about ME and MY issues, how does this
relate to YOU?
If YOU do any coaching, YOU need to determine what
kind/type of client and the kind/type of relationship
you want to have with that particular individual.
If you’re just getting started, there will definitely be a
tendency to work with anyone who’s got a pulse. This
because you need to make money and are willing
to tolerate some things that you might not otherwise
put up with.
The elements of the coaching program YOU put in place
may look VERY different than MINE. That’s fine. It’s
YOUR program and you should run it the way that
makes sense for you.
However you choose to run your program there are
certain key issues/elements you should consider.
They include but are not limited to:
1. How will you select the people who you work with?
2. How will you get paid for that work? Will it be a flat
fee, or a percentage of sales or something else?
3. Will you work with people over the phone? Or will
you work with them face to face. Either? Both?
4. How will you measure the results that you claim to be
giving them?
5. What will your initial session look like?
6. How will you construct/structure your ongoing
sessions?
7. How often will you meet? (by phone or face to face)
8. How much additional access will they have to you?
(Can they call you or email you at any time, day or night?)
9. Will you have a minimum length of time that
you both commit to?
10. If, like me, you have a small equity component, what
“buyout” price have you attached to your contract?
These are just SOME of the things you need to consider.
As I’ve been doing my coaching for many years, I’ve now
PRECISELY DEFINED the kind/type of person who I like
to work with AND work BEST with.
When I first got started, I had an OPEN coaching program
This did NOT work for me. I did NOT have much fun with
a large number of the folks I worked with. Since FUN is
one of my most important values when working, this did
NOT work for me.
I also did not get a percentage from clients I worked with.
This made me feel like I was MUCH less a part of the
process than I am now. That did NOT work for me.
When I look at some of the people I now coach, they all
tend to exhibit some of the same traits. These are very
important to me. They include:
1. They are VERY coachable. We’ve agreed to work together
and they can take instruction well.
2. I hear from them as often as they need to, but NEVER
do I hear from them regarding anything trivial or unnecessary.
They are good at separating the important from the trivial.
3. They have a relatively relaxed and easy going nature.
(That’s NOT me and that’s WHY it works!)
4. They are usually WELL educated and intelligent.
5. They are emotionally and psychologically stable. Having
attempted to works with those who aren’t, there is a HUGE
difference.
I recently had a prospective client ask me how many
people I could work with at any given time. Good
question? Since my work as a coach is mainly as
an advisor/director, I feel comfortable that I can work
with 8-10 people at any one point in time.
Will all of them become SUPER rich and SUPER
successful. I only hope! But, reality dictates that that
is probably NOT the case. If one or two of them hit
homeruns and three or four more get hits, I’ll feel
pretty good about it.
What about those who don’t make it? Have I let
them down? I would hate it if that were the case,
but, it usually boils down to the fact that some
people are just NOT committed to the work. If that’s
true, things will not work out for them.
Should I have screened these folks out earlier in
the process? I wish I could get it right 100%, but
I can’t. Just like I would hope to get it right all of the
time with my lunches. Sorry, I can’t. I’m human and
things do screw up sometimes.
In order for a coaching relationship to work well for both
parties you need two things. A coach who knows his or
her stuff AND a person you “click” with.
Over the years, my coaching program has evolved. I
suggest you CONSIDER my model. I’m not saying it’s
the RIGHT or the ONLY way to do it, but YOU should
figure out WHAT it is for YOU.
I hope these ideas are helpful to you.
Upcoming Events:
NYC:
Publishing Seminar – May 26-27
LOTS of great speakers at a very
reasonable price – Manhattan location TBD
Just before the Book Expo in NYC; ALL about
publishing and SELF PUBLISHING!
http://www.PublishingSeminar.com
LAS VEGAS:
Fred Info Bootcamp
Las Vegas, June 4th – June 11th
Spend a week with me to get to REALLY
understand HOW to create, market and
sell Info Products. Maximum of 6 people.
This has become my MOST popular event.
Get a product done, get your copy done,
get your website done. Get it ALL done in
just ONE WEEK!
www.FredInfoBootcamp.com
Lunch with Fred – Venice, Italy – May 12, 2009
Lunch with Fred – Buenos Aires – June 22, 2009
http://www.LunchWithFred.com
All the Best,
Fred
