There are many different types of coaches out there who work with clients for a variety of purposes. Whether they are formed to help with business or personal goals, most coach-client relationships remain fixed in that designated realm. However, there are some clients who seek assistance outside the normal scope of a coach’s practice.
Here, 12 members of Forbes Coaches Council each share the strangest, most outlandish or surprising request they’ve received from coaching clients—whether or not they chose to take it on—and what the outcome was.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.1. Wanting A Friend To Join A Session
I had a client wanting to invite a friend to join the session because she wanted my coaching style to assist her friend to deepen her thinking about a problem they were encountering with each other. I used it as an opportunity to probe where the request was coming from and for my client to consider the pros and cons of doing that. Through her own solutions process, she thereafter withdrew the idea. - Arthi Rabikrisson, Prerna Advisory
2. Assisting A Top Law Enforcement Official
A top law enforcement official in North Carolina called my office. My assistant said that there was a person on the phone from the Department of Crime Control. I asked, “About that speeding ticket from two years ago?” My assistant said, “I don’t know.” Fast forward: I interviewed him on-site, built a résumé and helped him with his new career path by learning about him, touring facilities and more. - John M. O’Connor, Career Pro Inc.
3. Finding A Professional Marital Compromise
A retired military officer and his wife came to my office. The wife could not handle her husband being home all day and wanted me to write a resume and “get him a job.” They argued. I suggested that his wife become the executive vice president of the home as they learned to ease into retirement. He called me the next day. He had a plaque made with his wife’s name and “Executive Vice President.” - Diane Hudson, Career Marketing Techniques, LLC
4. Help With A Leadership Self-Assessment
An executive coaching client was asking me to assist in filling out her 360-degree leadership assessment self-evaluation during a challenging personal situation with a lot of stress. My first reaction was “no,” but to help the client, I agreed to do a shadowing by asking resource-oriented questions. The result was astonishing, as the self-perception and interpersonal perception were a perfect match. - Cristian Hofmann, Empowering Executives | SUPERGROUP LTD
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
5. Asking For Free Coaching Sessions
I’ve had the president of an insurance company call me once and, after a brief discussion, ask that I coach him for free, suggesting it would help my coaching practice because he is challenging to work with. I asked if he’d ever given away free car insurance because his client suggested he’d be better off having them as a client. He said “no,” so I suggested he call me back when it happens. - Shawn Casemore, Casemore and Co. Inc.
6. Going On A Month-Long Business Trip
A client requested I travel with her on a month-long business trip to different countries that included meetings, presentations, conferences and audits. The idea was to be a reliable advisor who she could bounce ideas off of, talk about key business decisions with and even get feedback on meetings and business presentations from. I didn’t take it up because of the duration and my other projects. - Vinesh Sukumaran, Vinesh Sukumaran Consulting
7. Doing In-Person Sessions During The Pandemic
In the heat of the Covid pandemic, I received a request from a very prominent and senior client, assigned to me by their government, insisting on only face-to-face sessions, as she didn’t believe in virtual engagement or trust its effectiveness. I encouraged her to give it a trial run, explaining that I consider the safety of my clients a priority under all circumstances, and it ended successfully. - Adaora Ayoade, EZ37 Solutions
8. Securing A Needed Change Of Scenery
I had a client who was struggling to focus in an office setting. I suggested we go somewhere she was comfortable, which might help break through some barriers keeping her from uncovering her best next steps. She suggested we go to her favorite Korean spa and get scrubbed together. I had to share that I keep my clothing on with customers and suggested a nearby park. - Erica McCurdy, McCurdy Solutions Group LLC
9. Becoming An Emergency Contact
My clients have invited me to their baby showers, bridal showers and weddings, and have even asked me to be their emergency contact. But one of my most honored requests was to be on the list of people to call if something happened during the delivery of my client’s first child. I felt immense responsibility and deep gratitude to be in such a trusted position. The child is now nine years old and doing well. - Rosie Guagliardo, InnerBrilliance Coaching
10. Delivering Pro Bono Help In Difficult Circumstances
I took on a “mission impossible” when a friend from school called me explaining that she was a single mom with no support. Her boss was a bully, the job was a total mess that was not aligned with her values and paid really badly, and she had debt. She needed my help, and she could not pay me. She is now debt-free, back in the luxury business and much happier. The next stop is becoming smoke-free. I now take on a client like that every month! - Julien Fortuit, Julien Fortuit Agency
11. Assisting An Individual In Choosing An Outfit
A client requested that I assist someone on her team by going shopping and choosing an acceptable outfit for the individual to wear for a board meeting. I initially laughed at the request, but I took it on as a favor. The individual was not happy with my choices, but she was complimented highly. As a result, I decided to offer professional image coaching as a part of my offerings! - Tinna Jackson, Jackson Consulting Group, LLC
12. Officiating Their Wedding
I was once asked to officiate my client’s wedding. I had known this individual for over a year and supported them around creating more love in their life. When I received the invitation, I was immediately honored and happy to support my client, this incredible human being. - Joshua Miller, Joshua Miller Executive Coaching
