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I mentioned to one of my mature students from the class I teach for consultants at UCLA that I’ve started to do business coaching, as well.
He groaned, “Why?”
“I enjoy it, I’m dealing with smaller enterprises, it’s local, and it’s a different business model,” I replied.
I couldn’t help noticing the low regard in which he holds coaches.
He said, “But, there are so many of them, out there!” and implied that everybody and anybody, thinks he can be a coach.
Of course, he’s right. The field is exploding, and there are absolutely no entry barriers.
You don’t have to become licensed, take classes, or gain accreditation.
If you’re breathing, you can coach.
The beauty of this is the fact that it’s utterly democratic, wide-open, and a veritable gold rush, for some, who can convince clients of their helpfulness.
The downside is obvious. Many coaches aren’t effective; they’re confusing the market, and diminishing the credibility of better practitioners.
The key question to ask, if you’re considering the services of a coach, is this:
“How have you earned the right to coach me?”
If they can’t cite appropriate experience and credentials, forget them.
If they say, “I’m a great listener, and it’s lonely at the top, so you can talk to me,” consider getting a cat or dog, instead.
Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC's Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.
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