Money Coaching and the Business Environment

by Robert Coleman

Money is a symbol for survival, self-worth, power, and productivity within our culture. As such, it is inevitably a "hot button" within families and the upbringing of children. It is very common for children to adopt negative viewpoints regarding themselves, their own value within society, and the nature of money itself from their early family experiences. When these children become adults and enter the workforce, they often bring their negative beliefs and behavior into the workplace.

In theory, the world of business is supposed to be separate from the personal lives of  employees. Employees are expected to leave their personal lives at home when they step through the doors of the enterprise. However, while employees may be able to isolate their personal interests and family activities from their jobs, they can't readily leave behind their attitudes and patterns regarding money.

The reason for this is that all for-profit business activities represent a group effort to provide goods and services to the public in exchange for money.  This shared purpose automatically connects every employee within a business ultimately to money somehow. From the highest executive to the lowliest clerk, all employees have their beliefs and behaviors regarding money in play.

The interplay of money issues within a business can be very subtle. A  sarcastic remark by a service representative to a longtime customer could stem from the employee's unresolved hostility towards power figures and sources of money. A sales representative may fail to close that big sale because deep down he suffers from feelings of low self-esteem regarding accepting money. The President of a company may reject valid suggestions from subordinates off-hand due to a hidden sense of insecurity. The various manifestations of negative money issues as expressed within a company can be  complex and varied.

Negative money issues held by the employees will undermine and oppose the success of the enterprise. The company might have restricted productivity, discordant employee relationships, failed projects, inhibited sales, restricted cash flows, dissatisfied customers, and countless other problems. The individuals responsible for these issues are generally unaware that they are causing the problems.  They will simply be doing their jobs from their own perspectives and life experiences. In fact, founders and entrepreneurs themselves may unintentionally limit their company's success due to their own unresolved money issues.

Executives traditionally attempt to solve business problems with standard business remedies. These are the sorts of solutions taught in colleges and universities to M.B.A. Students. Managers will conserve cash, reduce overhead, lay off employees, develop new marketing campaigns, tighten employee discipline, and so forth. These responses may indeed improve the company's circumstances. However, because the underlying money issues of the employees are never even acknowledged, they will tend to resurface as new confusions and problems to be addressed in the future.

Entrepreneurs, executives, and managers need to acknowledge that personal money issues are real factors that can inhibit the performance of both the business and the individuals within it. When difficulties fail to resolve despite the application of regular business practices, underlying negative money issues may be the culprit. When problems go away only to resurface again and again, suspect unacknowledged negative money patterns in play. And, when you are unable to get good, standard business practices applied in the first place, look for the unresolved confusions, upsets, and negative beliefs about money held by your employees.

Money Coaching is a system created for the rapid discovery and resolution of money issues held by individuals and businesses. Through communication, clarity, and insight, coaching clients learn to identify and move beyond negative money patterns that have been restricting their potential for success.

Robert Coleman is the President of Master Plan Strategies, Inc., a business consulting firm. He is a Money Coach and Business Consultant with over twenty years of experience providing professional services to companies and individuals.

For more information on Master Plan Strategies, go to http://www.mplanstrategies.com.

Robert can be reached at 707-762-2170 between 9 A.M. To 5 P.M. M-F Pacific time, or at rhcole@rcoleman.com.