How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Coach?

I often get asked this question: How much does it cost to hire a coach?

I find it difficult to answer that question in a way that will do justice to coaching!

I can however flip that question to find better answers: What do you get when you hire a coach?

Are you paying for the number of hours that the coach gives you?
Are you paying for the number of sessions that the coach offers?
Are you paying for the assessment that the coach does and reports he or she shares?

Any such numerical measures will not do justice to the true value that a coach brings to the relationship.

Lets look at it differently.

If a leader has been placed in a role that is new and larger and more challenging and on his or her successful transition rests the success of the business, and a coach were to walk along with the leader during that journey and set him or her up for success, how valuable would that be?

If the promoter of a business is concerned about his son or daughter succeeding him to take the business and its legacy forward and finds a business mentor and coach who can work with them and help them get there, how valuable would that be?

If a Board is wanting to groom a leader to succeed the CEO and finds a coach who can work with that leader and actually helps the leader get there, how valuable would that be?

If a leader is able to pick up the phone and chat with his coach about an impeding conflict or dilemma or critical decision and is able to get perspectives that move him forward, how valuable would that be?

If a leader knows that there is someone now in his or her life that wants for him or her to succeed, is watching his or her actions, offering her feedback and perspectives without expectations, how valuable would that be?

You see, a coach is giving his or her coachee mind-space and heart-space during the course of a long relationship of about a year. The coach is offering unconditional respect and care and concern for the coachee. The coach is willing to listen to the leader in a manner that no one in his or her life would have. The coach is excited by the coachee’s success but does not judge him when he falters. That relationship is like strong rope that is a bridge between leader’s present realities and his or her potential.

We can if we wish, assign financial values to these benefits but then, do I really need to?