If I had a dollar for every time a coach asked me whether they should get contracts signed with their clients … I’d be sending this email from my very own private island.
There are two main schools of thought when it comes to coaches and their contracts:
1) Coaches who have their clients sign a long document full of legalese, which makes the client feel like they’re selling their soul to the devil,
Or
2) Coaches who “trust” their clients, and show that trust by solidifying the relationship with a just a handshake (or a virtual one).
Which side do I fall on in this debate?
I think that coaches should get relationship in writing. It’s just smart business: it protects the coach and ensures that the client treats the coaching seriously.
(Note: I prefer to use the term “agreements” with my clients, instead of “contracts”)
But I don’t think that the agreement should be too wordy. You don’t need 50 pages that scares someone to death and keeps them from signing on the dotted line.
My coaching agreement is pretty short. It’s a one page document, with none of the legal jargon which could scare people off.
Yet it’s been getting the job done for the last three years that I’ve been using it, and I’ve passed it along to the coaches who I work with for their use as well (and it’s worked for them, too).
Since coaching agreements are so important, I decided to include a copy of the agreement that I use in the May issue of the Secret Coach Club newsletter. SCC subscribers can take that agreement and run with it – but the deadline to get it is tonight at midnight EST. Get yours here:
