Never Coach Friends and Family a New Coach Rule

Sep 27
07:10

2012

Jeffrey Sooey

Jeffrey Sooey

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One thing that one should take into consideration is coaching friends and family. This is one that a coach should never do.

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As you are beginning your career as a new coach,Never Coach Friends and Family a New Coach Rule Articles there are certain things that one must follow and take into consideration. One thing that one should take into consideration is coaching friends and family. This is one that a coach should never do. Never is a big statement but this should be strictly observed especially if you are a new coach.

And why is that? It is because your friends and family know you. They know you now and they knew you before you were a coach. They knew you when you were still a child, when you had your first birthday, what made you cry... As a new coach it will be difficult for you to separate your personal and professional life. Family and friends may not be able to take things seriously if they know too much about you.

Also to become an effective coach you must be able to make your clients open up to you. You must help them discover what is holding them back and this may be quite a hurdle. It is uncovering their past which is not an easy task. Opening up to strangers is sometimes far easier than discussing what you are feeling to family.

Being a new coach is difficult enough thus being a coach to your mother or sister may be doubly difficult. You must not have any prejudice when dealing with clients, but knowing your clients may have an effect on what you say and your coaching style.

But what are you to do when you have no choice but to coach family and friends? What does one have to consider? What does one have to be careful about? What do you have to know if there is no other alternative but to coach them? First things first, you must act like you are a real coach. Separate the personal you from the professional coach you. Dress the part and make sure that you hold your coaching sessions in a professional venue. Do not hold your coaching sessions in familiar surroundings or in surroundings where you usually have family gatherings or friendly chats. You will need to create a different environment, one that does not remind them of their personal relationship with you.  

As their new coach, you will have a huge responsibility towards them. You will need to make sure that you will leave any feelings, personal relationships, references out of your coaching sessions. If you are able to do this, then lucky you. Coaching friends and family are frowned upon because they may damage one’s relationship with that friend or family member and ultimately may end up as an unsuccessful coaching session.