Setting Your Fee
Steve Chandler, a world class coach, speaker, and author has taught me one vital lesson over the past 6 months I’ve worked with him. One of the first notes I took from his coaching is scribbled in quotes in my special notebook “Your fee is your first act of service.”
My fee IS my first act of service. I now believe this in my heart as well as my head. As a coach, I’ve studied and discovered a wide range of coaches with different specialties, programs and fee structures. This diversity of service offering exists in pretty much any industry serving people. Whether you are an accountant or a coach, you’ll find others that offer fees at all levels.
The key to setting a proper fee involves getting very clear on your value. As humans, we have the tendency to underplay our value. We fear that others won’t agree to the fee we would like to receive in exchange for our services, so we cave. We set a fee that seems reasonable, and then resent that we’re getting paid so little.
Our resentment shows up in our commitment to our client, and it diminishes the impact of our work together. It short changes (literally) the entire process.
This, my friends is why my fee is my first act of service. When you write a check that stretches your comfort zone, you automatically raise your game. By the very act of making a financial commitment, you validate that you’re worth the investment.
One helpful thought is to imagine yourself writing a check for the same amount for the same service. Does it feel right? Would you do it? How can you bring parity to the situation?
How does this apply to you?
Coach Charrise
Enjoy!