Business Coaches: When Is It Time To Utilize A Transitional Business Coaching Package?

You're a business coach and your coaching relationship has ended. But for some reason your ex-client is still leaving messages on your Facebook wall, emailing with questions, and finding little ways to stay connected. Is this okay?

Of course, it's quite natural, after spending six, nine, or even 12 months together starting up a business, for your former client to want—and maybe need—to stay connected with you. After all, you've been the one she has trusted with her business dream, personal fears, and joyous celebration. Therefore a short transitional period is to be anticipated.

But what if this doesn't feel like a normal transition period?

If you completed your coaching contract a month or two ago, the final payment has been received, and your ex is still unwilling to let go, something needs to be done.

When an ex-client refuses to exit, it most likely means one of two things:

1. They genuinely need more time with you, or 2. They need help moving on.

When a Transition Needs to Be Made

If your former client simply needs more coaching time with you, that's easy enough to build in to your existing business coaching services. Some coaches I know design into the back-end of their coaching relationship an obligatory transitional business coaching package. This is usually a three-month coaching package that clients know they will sign up for as soon as the traditional coaching package has been completed. It is not an extended coaching package (offered if your client needs an additional month or two to complete the original coaching project). Instead, its emphasis is on weaning your client off regular meetings and involvement with you toward greater independence and self-reliance.

If your client is used to meeting with you four times a month, then for the first month have her meet with you two times. After that, meet twice again at three-week intervals. Then, your client will have a final meeting with you one month later, for a total of five transitional coaching sessions. One of the things I like to do after I've completed a coaching package with my clients is to offer a six-month unlimited email coaching support package for $75/month. If, during this time, my clients want any additional coaching sessions, then they are billed for each session as they occur. During this time, nothing new is to be started or ideas floated. The email coaching support package is only to be used for residual questions they may have related to the coaching package they've just completed.

When Boundaries Need to Be Set

If the transitional business coaching package doesn't do the trick, consider that your ex may need help moving on. If this is the case, boundaries must be set. Not only for your professionalism but also for your ex-client's personal independence and business success. Check to make sure that:

1. Your ex knows it's over.

Sometimes we, as business coaches, think we've clearly delivered a message when, in fact, we haven't. So if your ex keeps hanging around, refusing to exit, make sure you've presented the message that the coaching relationship is now concluded. If necessary, schedule a short coaching call (15-20 minutes) and have a "sit-down" that leaves nothing open to interpretation. The point is: you need to confirm that the business coaching relationship is over in no uncertain terms.

2. Your ex isn't under the impression that you're friends.

Because of the close relationship business coaches share with their clients, over the months of working together a client may come to see your business relationship as a personal friendship. While it is possible to become friends with your ex after the coaching relationship has ended, first, the coaching relationship must come to an end. That means that a period of time must elapse between when your role as business coach has ended and a new relationship as a friend can be entertained. How long? Long enough for your client to fully become an ex-client. Long enough that you don't feel tempted to inquire, "How's your business going?" and she's not tempted to query, "Can I just ask you a question about my business?"

Being a business coach is a fabulously rewarding profession. You get to help people take their entrepreneurial dream of becoming a small business owner and make it a reality. Yet, there are times when ambiguity and insecurity arise, especially at the ending of a coaching relationship. When that happens, make sure you assist your client become a happy, satisfied ex by providing a transitional business coaching package that ends the coaching relationship and fosters independence and success.