EngineerHer

I know, most of ye are thinking “well, of course a coach would say that”

Well yeah. I’ve been through this process more than once myself, after all, and I know the value I’ve received. There’s no comparison really – the value way outweighs the cost. But the cost can appear very high at first.

Like how much?

OK, the cheapest I’ve found is €75 an hour. But, to be honest, that was someone just starting out and getting their feet under the table. Executive coaching can reach tens of thousands – and it’s worth it for the people that access it.

Now, I do offer free sessions to those who are out of work or students. Up to three sessions there. And everyone gets an hour long session free of charge to see if we can work together. But after that? It varies widely.

And I’m not being coy here. I’m not in the tens of thousands brackets yet – I wish! – but if you want unlimited access to me, and expect replies within a set time frame, multiple calls a week depending on what you feel you need? You know you’re going to pay for that service.

For most people though? It’ll start out around €150 a session. And sessions are 1 hour. Discounts for booking multiple sessions. And payment options galore. Seriously – you’d be amazed at the creative solutions we can come up with for payment options.

Why is it worth it?

If you’re looking for bargains to start with? Likely you’re not willing to invest the time and energy needed. Never mind the money. I’m not saying if you’re living pay check to pay check and struggling to pay rent, you don’t deserve coaching. Absolutely not.

But I am saying that if you can afford to eat out multiple times a week, pay for those Amazon packages arriving several times a week, splurging on multiple holidays a year, then funds aren’t the problem.

Priorities are.

I’ve been there. Seriously. I once managed to feed my husband and myself for £10 (GBP) a month for six months. (We had a full freezer and lots of herbs starting off, so it wasn’t as bad as it sounds, but it was a serious issue and terrifying to realise how badly in the red we were and how few choices we had) Paying for a coach just wasn’t a damn option then. We discussed on a weekly basis whether we could afford Lidl chocolate.

So, if you’re in that position, it’s not a priority issue, it’s a funds issue. And there is help out there, just by the way. (In Ireland, MABS is your best bet for starting out) Don’t suffer alone.

Hard decisions

Remember last week when I said you had to be honest with yourself? Well here’s where the priorities come in.

And this is where financial advice can fall down all the time. But if you genuinely feel you want or need a career coach to help you in your career, then you need to prioritise that spend. I love listening to Ramit Sethi’s Money for Couples podcast. I get a lot of value out of it. But one thing that consistently comes back to me from his conversations with people?

Most people are paying for things that they really don’t value. And when the shit hits the fan, the things we thought were deal-breakers, really aren’t. I’m hoping no one comes to me in that scenario, but it can happen.

So, it might be that you value regular weekends away more than coaching. That’s really ok. Seriously. That’s the choice that you make with your money. It’s your money – no one else gets to choose what you pay with it. Well – cept the government and taxes, but even then… plenty of people appear to avoid paying tax very well. Not that I’m advising that, by the way. I’m a firm supporter of taxes. I just wish they were used a bit better in education and health care. But that’s an aside.

Value vs cost

See, what would it be worth to you to get a new job with a €10k pay rise? €500? €2000? More?

Everyone’s decisions are different. I once negotiated a new role with a €35k payrise. (Trust me when I say that was a life saver for us. Also a complete game changer in terms of how I value myself)

But the coaching I got for that role? Priceless. (Not to go all Mastercard on you!)

The value you get from coaching is pretty much always worth the investment (or cost). And there is a sunk cost thing with humans – we’re willing to put more effort into something when we pay money for it. Just try organising a free event… so many people sign up, so few people join. Particularly if it’s online!

But when we pay for something? Things get really interesting. People turn up. Engage. Take part. Put the effort in.

So, think about the value coaching could bring to you? If you’re not sure – that’s ok. Maybe coaching isn’t for you. Seriously, it’s not for everyone. And there’s no FOMO here.

If you’re happy with your career, your life, everything, then you don’t need a coach. If you have a good support structure in work and you’re actively working with your manager on a growth path – you probably don’t need a coach. If you’re happy in what you do and the pay you get – you probably don’t need a coach.

But if you do…

If you do need a coach? Then have a look around. Try out a few. Most will allow at least one free session to see if ye click.

And don’t expect coaching for nothing. Do you really want the equivalent of a poorly made shirt from a sweatshop in the back end of beyond, where employees are pushed for numbers not quality? Or do you want the equivalent of a bespoke shirt, personally fitted, completely suited to your tastes and measurements?

Or indeed, something in between?

Most people don’t need the tens of thousands option. That level of executive coaching is high level and demanding. But most people need more than reading the odd blog post as well.

Where do you stand? Click here to schedule a call, if you want!