The issue about “focus on outcome” is a big subject. In my view, many coaches and consultants have a Western management theory based view of the world which makes unitary and linear assumptions about how it works. ie There’s one best way of doing things (it’s all about the outcome) and once you find it, then the more you follow that path (ie chase the outcome) the better things will get .

Unfortunately, as we know the world doesn’t work in a unitary or linear way; there are always choices as to how we go about things, and it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

A plurarlist, non-linear approach is therefore a more appropriate perspective for dealing with real world problems.

Chasing the outcome is a blinkered approach that can very easily blind you to better possibilities that you encounter en route.

Also, whether we like it or not, coaching is a behavioural intervention, like therapy. And therapy comes from the ancient Greek “theraps” meaning attendant. The idea is that we help people on their journey – it’s about process, not outcome.

To use a non-work analogy; life is a process, death is the outcome. Which do you want to spend your time concerned with?

Let’s grab that coffee sometime.

I’m sure plenty of people think they can or should charge more for grey hair or number of years experience. My unsurprising answer to that one is… it’s about the mix of quality, delivery, results, client satisfaction etc that should determine pricing; which crosses over into a degree of supply and demand, not to mention industry, the service being provided and other terms involved. One things for sure – businesses will never be short of options for choosing average suppliers who have low pricing. Lots of people told me that I’d never have a successful business when I started it at age 30 in a poor economic climate… lots said I should be at least 40+… but then most of those saying this had less experience under their belt at 45 than I had already accumulated by then. (at the risk of sounding arrogant!)

I’ve met coaches/mentors/clients who have been a big fish in a small pond, in one company, who in 20+ years have less quality judgment, experience and expertise than others who have many less years under their belt but who have been out there working internationally, in a variety of roles, businesses and have been relentlessly developing themselves and stepping up to challenges that far outweigh grey hairs or years.

By the way, it costs me an arm and a leg to maintain the colour of my hair each month!!!

My rule of thumb = if you’re worth it, charge it because ultimately it’s about value, more than price.

@Mark Seabright

Thanks for your post Mark. Value it. Would be good to talk some more offline. Can’t get my head around how a focus on the outcome throughout with contracting, can be in direct conflict with ethics? Maybe it’s the words ‘all about’ that you’re referring to specifically?

I’m always keen to collaborate. The buyer’s guide sounds interesting. I’ll drop you a line to meet for a coffee sometime.

Best regards, Luke

Interesting article and video.

I completely agree that in an unregulated industry ethics and values must be a priority for both parties. They should also be explicitly stated at the outset in my view.

I disagree entirely that it’s all about the outcome. That’s in direct conflict with an ethical stance to start with, and consideration must be given at all stages as to how the client is handling the journey – back to your point about recontracting.

What I’d like to see is something that actually helps people who want/need coaching to make an informed choice about it. Something like a “buyer’s guide for coaching” might do the trick. Let me know if you want to team up on writing it. I’d be quite interested in having a go at that.

Also, the Handbook of Coaching Psychology is a good read for anyone who thinks they’re a good coach and have only learned one model or approach.

Good luck with it all.

Mark

I have the same issue with social media communication and digital marketing. The difference is a mindset, very often the end result is the same. The perspective defines the journey.

What’s really on everyone’s lips though is the question can you charge more if you have grey hair?

Good to kick ideas around with you – thanks for sharing your experience. Luke

I know some folk don’t like this idea and can get uppity about not staying true to the protocols they were taught. But life’s full of choices and I like to think people buy solutions rather than coaching or consultancy or whatever. If you can provide a solution, does it really matter how if the client is delighted?

I’m reading Tony Hsieh (of Zappos.com fame) at the moment and his book “Delivering Happiness” – he really gets under the skin of long term commitment to what you stand for: http://www.deliveringhappiness.com/about-2/ (Sure you’ll have come across it before. I’d been meaning to read him for a while, and got cracking when a lovely client bought it for me last week!)

Seth Godin, branded himself with the word ‘broken’ in Marketing talks. http://bit.ly/rdjRXG

We can all ‘brand’ to the degree of Levis, Apple or Nike. All we have to do is decide what our values are and stick with them. Sadly most cannot do it, because the personal or professional focus is jaded by either a decision to make money (in the professional instance) or because we do not know ourselves well enough to make a commitment long enough to become a well branded individual (in the personal instance).

I’m rambling. Keep the good posts flowing

Mark