For some reason, I have a consumer activist in me. I’ve always been someone who has rooted for the underdog and championed consumer rights. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s from having a family who has worked in retail for a few generations where customer service is paramount. Perhaps it’s because I often felt growing up that life was unfair.
I’ve brought that attitude into this profession, and I will sometimes hear from people who have invested in a program, training or some coaching that ends up not being an excellent investment for them and/or their business. I used to get upset on their behalf when I would hear this, and this was part of what spurred me on to start the Coaching from 3 Principles Understanding group. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has found the coaching industry having some unscrupulous people in it, and perhaps you feel that you have been duped yourself?
I have been asked by several people in this group whether my AJC Coaching Career School would be a good investment, and that had me reflect on what makes any training, coaching or program a good investment for a coach. How can we ensure, or at least make it more likely, that we don’t waste money on a course, coach or program?
Here are my top 3 suggestions:
1) Do your due diligence on what you are investing in, and don’t let it be a shot in the dark. If you are looking at hiring a business coach, then I suggest you check out any content they have online and see if you vibe with it. Then get a sample session (or two) with them to see if their approach can help you. Use this session (or two) to work on precisely what you want them to help you with rather than just discussing the logistics of working together.
2) Look at the track record of what you are investing in. Who else has worked with this person or organisation? Can you speak to former clients and ask them about their experience? How successful are they at helping someone like you to have the results you want to create? Don’t simply focus on the star one or two case studies but dive in a bit deeper.
3) Find out what you have to do and how you have to show up to get the most out of your investment. It’s unlikely to be a passive thing. Do you need to invest one hour weekly in the program or training, or is it more like four hours? Do you have to prepare for each coaching session? Would you have homework to complete and how much? Then ask yourself if you are willing to be the person who will get the most out of it.
Overall, I would suggest you treat any investment in your coaching business like any business investment. Have a clear business case that would give someone else confidence that this is going to be something worthwhile investing in. This doesn’t guarantee results, but it is likely to help you get more out of your investments and have you less likely to be swindled or simply disappointed.
With love and appreciation,
Ankush Jain
Coach and Author of Sweet Sharing – Rediscovering the REAL You
