Keeping it all above board!!

If you are a Coach of ANY focus or capacity, I have one very important coaching vow to share with you that I will hold at the forefront of my mind for my entire career!!

The Boundary between Coach and Client

If you have read my previous articles then you will know that I am a huge fan of well-placed healthy boundaries. As Coaches it is our responsibility to dive deep into our client’s lives, we are their mirrors when they feel stuck; we guide them through the release of negative experiences and hold them accountable when they commit to taking action.

As an uncomplicated person, I like to keep my life drama-free, but coaching is not strictly without drama and it’s easy to become emotionally involved, so how do I keep it all above board?

We learn from our previous experiences

I felt this boundary blur for the first time when my client of just over 3 months appeared on my laptop screen for our weekly session and burst into tears. She had been let go from her job and her urgency to find another source of income took over any and all the work we had done up to that point, with our focus now shifted and her growing demands on my time she became my priority client

I have heard many other instances of clients becoming far too dependent on their coaches, resulting in inappropriately demanding relationships that are hard to put a stop to if they go on for too long. Clients and coaches that are attracted to and flirtatious with each other can influence the amount of valuable work that takes place or quite the opposite when a Coach and a client just do not click. The list of possibilities goes on but I have created a vow to stop all of this confusion and I want to share it with you

My coaching vow is…

I am a Coach providing a service, nothing more and nothing less

Simple, right?

I understand that this is not at all groundbreaking but I remind myself of this all the time…

As a Coach, it is your responsibility to set the pace and boundaries of the relationship and then continue to monitor them throughout the process. When a client decides to sign up for coaching, no matter what kind of coaching you offer, you are providing a service. 

Will you work your butt off for them?  You better!!

 Will you think fondly of them and stay in touch after your coaching program has ended? Sometimes

 Do they own you? No

 Are they your boss? No

 Are you responsible for their actions and decisions? No

 Are you allowed to call it off when you don’t feel comfortable? Yes!!

As well as protecting yourself, you are also protecting your other clients. 

“Be here for me now”

I have had that post-it note stuck to the side of my screen for as long as I can remember because every client that appears in front of me deserves my effort, energy, and undivided attention.

Some clients will require a little more hand-holding, or research on your part to come up with something amazing for them but it should never compromise your values, encroach upon your personal life or take away from your committed client base