We’ve all had life coaching clients who didn’t get the results they wanted. When this happens, who do they blame? You. Although it’s not fair, there is little you can do after the fact. Fortunately there are objective ways to point out to your clients how they may be sabotaging not only their coaching sessions, but their life as well.

How To Keep Your Life Coaching Clients From Blaming You For Their Lack Of Success.

1. Hold your clients accountable for showing up on time and in focus. A client who calls you from their car while driving is focused on many things. In order for your clients to get the most out of their coaching, they need to commit to being able to work.
2. Create an environment where your clients show up with a result they want to achieve from each session. Unless your clients take the time to prepare for their session and actually make a choice in what they want to achieve, the session will tend to become a conversation rather than a coaching session. It may take a few sessions for your clients to get up to speed, but once they realize how to do it they will actually expect more from a coaching session and get better results.
3. Create an environment that is honest. Give your clients a space to let you know what is working, what is not, and be open to their concerns. Once you know what the issue is, a solution can usually be found quickly.
4. Expect that your client is coachable. If they are not comfortable with feedback, be prepared to transform whatever needs to happen for them to see a new perspective quickly. Don’t give up on your client and dismiss them as ‘uncoachable.’ There are always two sides to every issue.

Nothing Is Possible Without Commitment

Above all, make sure your life coaching clients are committed to achieving their goals and that you are committed to supporting them. Remember that as a leader, you must go first. You may be the only person in your clients’ lives who is willing to go to bat for them.

Hope you took some great value out of this post today! I’d love to hear your feedback, so make sure you leave a comment with your thoughts or questions. And also, you can click on the Twitter button below to retweet this article… Thank you!

Colette Seymann
JTS Advisors Designated Accountability Coach