Does your business suffer from ABM?

Some of my colleague's and I have noticed that ABM or Accidental Business Misrepresentation is on the rise.

Accidental? Yes. People don't always realize or know they are misrepresenting.

There is an ongoing practice where a professional takes their services and sweeps them all  under the single umbrella of “coaching”.  

This leaves their precious clients scratching their heads… believing they are coming for coaching and then getting an entirely different service. This can also pose liability issues, stating services as "X" and then delivering "Y".  In some cases this has caused public confusion.

How can you avoid or fix ABM?

Simple! Place the primary service you do provide within your title. Some examples:

• Educator
• Instructor
• Consultant
• Mentor
• Spiritual Counselor
• Editor
• Photographer
• Etc.

​Both companies and individuals can fall into ABM challenges.
By placing your primary service as your title, you will avoid liability, confusion and misrepresentation.  Not everything that helps someone is coaching. For example, if I'm giving someone information or direction, then I'm doing consulting. If I'm giving life advice, then I'm counseling them.

What Makes a Coach?

You may be surprised to learn that trained coaches:

1. Do not have an agenda.
2. Do not give advice, direction, or guidance.
3. Are trained to help our clients lead empowered lives and gain new skills.
4. 
   

If you are new to coaching, you might be scratching your head and wondering, "How is it possible to empower someone without leading, advising and/or guiding them???" 

Seems counter-intuitive, I agree.

Coaches are trained to help clients navigate their inner-game for outward gain.  

For example, coaches are trained to help clients:

• Review skill assessments
• Facilitate self-awareness
• Enhance emotional intelligence
• Utilize strengths to compensate for weaknesses
• Facilitate personal and professional development

How do we do this?  Very Socratically. More specifically, the power of skilled observation and inquiry.  Coaches are trained to challenge clients with deep, provocative questions that move clients into a new ways of thinking, new awareness and new strategies.  

These observations and questions ignite, invite and challenge the client to think bigger than they ever could have done on their own.  

Coaches are trained to get you to reach farther and dig deeper into your natural gifts.  

Coaches are trained to know exactly when, why and how to allow you to move out of self-sabotage, work from their inspiration and lead a life the client builds by design.

​Why do we do this? 

Simply put: Give a person to fish, they are only fed for a day. Teach a person to fish they are fed for lifetime. At some point a person's empowerment must come from within. This is where coaching steps in. 

We are trained to help people navigate and grow into their own internal wisdoms, development and resources. We are here when people are ready to reach further, tackle fears and learn about their true potential. 
​
We are here to help people access their highest potential and start living, leading and learning through that potential.
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Interested in learning fundamental coaching skills and approaches? We've got you covered!
Take our Coaching Foundations online course, starting October 3rd. 
Visit us to learn more: www.IntegrativeCoachTraining.com