I love this question from Judy Tedford!
And the answer is yes, you can be both a VA and a Coach BUT not for the same person at the same time.
In our experience, mixing VA services and coaching with a client does not work… expectations get too mixed up and cloudy. Is the client expecting you to ‘coach’ them or to ‘do stuff’ for them?
For example, one of our coaches was working with a client on various projects, including creating a book. This particular coach also provided book writing services, and so he also offered to help with the ‘doing’ side of the project as well.
What would happen is that it wasn’t clear who would be doing what. During coaching calls the coach would ask ‘did you get this accomplished?’ and the client would say ‘I thought you were doing that?’… you can see where this gets messy yes?
And beware, it can be tempting to cross that line from time to time. If you are working with someone as their coach resist the temptation to do so! This can be especially tough if you are a ‘get it done’ person by nature… I know I have to reel myself in here with my coaching clients. 😉
However, if you are working with a client as their VA chances are that some coaching may ‘slip through the cracks’ inadvertently at times. This just seems to happen when we are a coach, it’s in our nature.
This isn’t quite as dire as it is with a coaching client, however do try to keep the coaching in check… for the simple reason that you are being paid as a VA and not a Coach. A good VA does end up coaching their clients a bit from time to time, but you don’t want to become their full time coach at a VA rate.
So please pretty please, keep the 2 separate to save yourself any headaches and to ensure a clear and successful coaching relationship with your clients.