I get asked quite often if I can be someone’s coach or mentor (I know they are slightly different but this article is about both) – and although I’m always flattered to be asked, I always say no. I thought I’d explain why:
- Coaching is a completely different skill set to training. Coaching is one to one listening and responding, exploring a path that could go anywhere. Training is entertaining a group of people while covering your pre-planned material. I have found that for some reason I’m good at training, but I also know from experience that I’m not good at coaching. The trainer in me wants to talk all the time and just TELL you the answers. It is quite possible that all coaches will make less-than-great trainers, and all trainers will make less-than-great coaches: …it’s certainly true for me!
- Coaching is HARD! It takes huge focus to delve into the mind of someone and to steer them towards finding their own answers. You have to understand them as a person, and also the details of their situation, colleagues, and some of the technicalities of their business. And you have to remember all this every time you see them, once every month or two, for maybe years. …it’s much easier to stand up and talk about stuff that you know like the back of your hand.
- Coaching is not as well paid – sorry, but it’s true. This is because people will pay more for the training of a group of 20 than they will for 1:1 coaching sessions. Training gets £1000-£3000 per day, Zoom training gets £400-£900/hour and coaching gets £100-£400 per session. And it’s hard to fit in more than 6 coaching sessions in a day – even 4 will be exhausting, and with travel you often only manage 1 or 2 face to face sessions in a day. So financially an hour of training, or a day of training, HAS to be much better than an hour or a day of coaching.
- Coaching doesn’t mix with training from a diary point of view – one £200 coaching session in my diary blots out a whole day when I could be training for £1400 or whatever. So I have to pick one and focus on it.
However I do know some excellent coaches, and I have posted their details below. Ideally I think you want someone local to you, who you can meet with face to face on at least some of your sessions, so if you are in Europe or the USA for example, then I would search locally.
Final thought – the ULTIMATE is training plus coaching, if you can afford it. Get a trainer in to give you a big efficient lump of great information, and then get a coach in to help you to apply it. One without the other is nowhere near as good as the two combined.
onwards and upwards!
CC
************************************
Coaches who I would recommend – I have worked with all of the following and I really like them – they are all based in the south of the UK except Malcolm (north UK), and they all have different approaches:
- Jenny Lamski…….time management, self discipline, focus https://www.jrlcoaching.co.uk
- Irwin Edgehill…… caring, gentle, helps with stress https://irwinedgehilltraining.com
- John Chisholm…….caring, interpersonal skills, fun https://www.crescente.co.uk/services/
- Linda Sykes……….influencing, interpersonal skills, help with difficult customers https://www.citruscoaching.co.uk/Profile/Linda%20Sykes
- Lyndon Stickley……………..grow your business, sell more, come out of your comfort zone, business strategy https://stratagem.uk.com/biography
- Andy Edwards……………personal development, marketing, influencing – Andy is great at getting you to really think about who you are and what you want to do. He’s quick, he’s funny, but he can see into your soul as well. https://andyedwards.biz/about-andy
Mention me when you contact them!
