Why Gurus Suck

OK, maybe I’m being a bit mean here. Some of them are good friends of mine and I have, on many occasions, flown half way round the world to learn from them. Mostly the top guys (and women) are incredible motivational speakers and leave you with a broader, more inspired view of the possibilities for your life. They are absolutely brilliant at what they do.

However, they are rarely brilliant coaches. And here’s why:

Being coached by these “gurus” is a bit like asking Michaelangelo for painting lessons when you have never even picked up a brush. Or asking Jenson Button to help you pass your driving test.

Or getting Rafael Nadal to give you tennis lessons – OK, I have to admit that one does appeal!

Yes, it does amazing things for your ego to say you’re being coached by the best of the best but in reality very few of them have learned to talk to you and empower you at a level you can work at now.

Your coach needs to be able to communicate, empathise, and empower you at the very edge of your comfort zone or just outside it. You need to be able to reach up to your coach at a stretch, but if he or she is at the very top of the ladder and you are only half way up they’re not going to be much use to you.

Coaching is not motivational speaking one on one!

Many of the gurus will tell you exactly how to do things to get the results they got, but they’re telling you what they know, not what you need to know! There’s a big difference. What you need to do where you are is very different from what they need to do where they are.

Don’t get me wrong, I would still travel half way round the world to be inspired by Mark Victor Hansen or Bob Proctor but in a coach I want someone who can say “I’ve been where you are and I remember how it feels”.