Jo & Holly – should you guarantee results for your clients? It’s a question that came up over lunch on the very first time Holly and I actually met in person (yes folks, after speaking on the phone for almost 3 years now, Holly and I actually met up in London recently and had the best time – and the best Argentinian ice cream!)
Over our red wine and white chocolate ice cream (I know – and yes, it was just as good as it sounds) we talked about recent encounters with coaches who were guaranteeing their clients results (sometimes even backed up with a money back guarantee).
Needless to say, we had a LOT to add to the subject.
I think one of the key differentiators with coaching (as opposed to a product based or consulting business) is that we don’t actually do the work – our clients do. To an outsider that can seem like the cushiest gig in the world but it is in fact a nuanced and very skilled relationship. it’s why I always recommend people looking for a coach do their due diligence and check for fit, background and take any promises that sound too good to be true as just that – likely to be too good to be true.
So listen in as Holly and I discuss the feasibility of could or should you guarantee results for your clients

What we discuss in this episode on should you guarantee results for your clients:
- What are the issues involved? Benefits, drawbacks and things to consider
- Why some coaches might be tempted to offer guarantees
- Why is might be more appropriate for some businesses than others
- Why coaching is different from products, courses and group programs
- Why I believe it’s way more powerful to stress that there’s NO guarantees
- Why offering a guarantee can create an unhealthy parent/child dynamic and absolves the client of an important responsibility
People & Things We Discussed:
Holly’s work on mindset
Our previous episode on The difference between Coaching, Mentoring and Masterminding