When Coaching and Coach Training Becomes a Scam
by Peggy Haymes, Pinnacle Associate
Last week the New York Times carried an article about people being taken advantage of by coaches. One woman, seeking to make changes in her life, started out with a $300/month coaching package. Being promised even greater benefits, she upgraded to $3,000/month. She achieved certification (not with the International Coaching Federation --ICF, the standard organization for certification) but never saw the $100,000/year income she’d been promised.
Another woman withdrew $18,000 from her 401(k) to pay for a course that would provide certification and, once again, an easy pathway to $100,000. When she struggled to make any income, she was pressured to sign up for more courses… $2,000, then $5,000 then $10,000.
In many situations people seek to come into coaching because they want to help other people. Sometimes the training they find provides little instruction in coaching as a profession but provides much in the way of upsells. They are pressured not only to buy more training but also to pay high fees for coaching from the people who are offering that training. Eventually they feel cheated and the clients with whom they work feel cheated and/or frustrated because the “coach” they’ve enlisted doesn’t know how to be an effective coach for them.
Sadly, these stories are what some people associate with coaching, obscuring the very good work of everyday coaches who never promise $100,000/yr. income results but who do partner with clients as they improve and make changes in their work and their lives.
At Pinnacle we offer coaching, and through Summit Coach training, courses for coaches. Here are some of the reasons why we’re different.
We never promise any kind of income boost as a result of our training. In fact, some of our students never go on to become coaches. Instead, they use the tools gained to become better congregational leaders, staff supervisors, and denominational executives. Summit Coach Training is focused on providing the knowledge and tools for people to use coaching effectively and ethically, no matter their arena.
Many Pinnacle coaches are either certified or are working towards certification through ICF. All of us have had coach training through Pinnacle or other reputable organizations. Our goal isn’t to sign you up for some program. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals.
Pinnacle coaches understand the world of ministry. Some have served congregations as pastors or staff members. Some have served in clinical and educational settings. Wherever we’ve served, we all come to the work of coaching understanding the challenges and commitments of serving as ministers.
In the coaching marketplace as in all marketplaces, pay attention to what is promised and what is asked.
If you are interested in addressing your goals or improving your skills, Pinnacle is a good place to start.
And we’re not going to ask you to take out a second mortgage.