Life Coaching Programs: Why I Don’t Like Them

There was an interesting comment recently from a coach in the Fully Booked Coach Facebook Group with somebody suggesting that her life coaching program was best for her clients when she met with them bi-weekly.

I think she meant every two weeks rather than twice per week, but even so, it still caused me to raise my eyebrows.

To begin with, I’m not particularly keen on coaching ‘programs’.

They seem to suggest that the coach has everything mapped out before the coaching process has even begun.

I do have a client journey that you can see on this page, but it is a very rough outline that is almost never stuck to with any one client.

Back when I was a life coach and a prospective client would ask me what we will be doing in each session, this is pretty much verbatim what I told them:

What I Said To A Prospective Client

In the first session, we will be taking a look at all aspects of your life. As human beings we are very poor at compartmentalizing. As such if we have problems in one area they will tend to bleed into other areas too.

For example, if you’re stressed senseless at work it is almost impossible to be able to walk out of the office in the evening and leave all that stress behind. It’s inevitably going to impact on your home and social life.

I take a very holistic approach to coaching, and by that I mean I want to get a feel for most things that are going on in your life.

This usually takes me about an hour, but it’s super important for me to have a rounded understanding of where you’re at.

In the second meeting, I want to take a look at core values.

This is, without doubt, the most important work I do with my clients and has given me more breakthroughs than everything else I do combined.

As a coach, it’s my job to step into your map of the world and not drag you into mine. Knowing your core values makes that exponentially easier.

Not only does my understanding of your values help me coach you more effectively, but they can offer some massive breakthroughs for you too, either immediately, as we move through the coaching process, or even at some point further down the road.

At the very least, understanding your values will give you greater clarity and improve your decision making abilities (presuming you utilize the information).

But they can offer you much more than that. Then can motivate you, help you deal with procrastination and give you some massive a-ha moments.

Again that will probably take me about an hour,  and that will take us to our third meeting.

I have absolutely no clue what we will be doing next time we convene. Seriously, none whatsoever because you’re different to every other client I’ve ever worked with.

If I did know when I have no way of forecasting what you will say to me during the first session, and even less of an idea of what your values are, then it would mean I’m using a cookie-cutter approach.

And that’s not good. At least not for you, it would probably make my life easier.

Coaching is very much a reactive process rather than a proactive one.

Good coaches aren’t trying to plan coaching sessions ahead of time because the whole ethos of co-active coaching is built on asking profound questions, and by definition, we can never be sure of the answers we shall receive ahead of time.

Note: There can be occasions where planning is necessary such as for career coaches, strengths finder coaches, productivity, and health coaches etc., I’m only talking about co-active coaching which is what I was trained in and is the favoured modality of the ICF.

I realize that all sounds a bit vague and I kind of apologize, but similarly, I kind of don’t.

It would be easy for me to say what I think you want to hear based on what you’ve told me you’d like to achieve in the time we will be working together.

It would also indicate that I’m either a lazy coach using the same approach with every client, or I’m fundamentally dishonest and just trying to get you to sign up with me.

I have used this approach for as long as I can remember and I’m happy with it.

Why I Don’t Like Life Coaching Programs

If you have a structured program where you take a client from A to Z passing through all stops, that reminds me of hypnotherapists who read from a book of scripts (and yes they do exist).

Hypnotherapy works effectively when the therapist can adapt to each client accordingly and use stories and metaphors that are relevant and personal to them.

The same goes for coaching.

It works most efficiently when it is hyper focussed on the client’s individual needs and everything happens for a reason.

I’m not saying don’t have a very vague framework to work within, although if you’re experienced you don’t even need that.

Similarly, I’m not saying this approach is unethical presuming the client is aware.

I’m just saying it’s not that different to your client buying a book or an online course that isn’t live.

The other thing that frustrates me about programs is that it presumes we know how long a client needs to make things work.

Like most coaches who have worked with hundreds of clients, I’ve had clients make massive breakthroughs very early in in the process, sometimes even in the first session.

That’s one of the reasons I’m against free ‘discovery’ or ‘deep dive’ sessions that many coaches now offer.

Firstly, you’re coaching for free and unless it’s for somebody in serious financial difficulties who you want to help, or you’re still in training, why would you do that? You’re running a business not a charity.

Secondly, one of the most difficult sales is when you move from free to paid. Even experienced salespeople struggle with it because you have just anchored your potential client to ‘free’.

And thirdly, on occasion, you’re going to solve your client’s issues and they are off on their merry way.

When I first started coaching I prepped the shit out of every call.

I’d pore through the notes, think of clever questions and imagine where I was going to try and take the client.

After 20 years in sales, this was what I was used to doing – but it was hopelessly wrong for coaching and I soon realized that.

Now prior to starting a call I’ll scan my notes, go back and refresh my memory on what my client’s values are and then get ready to kick off the call by saying:

‘So what’s on your mind?’

So what’s your take on this? Please leave me a comment below and let’s chat!