Usually, I can restrain my impatience with bad semantics, but this is from the University of Minnesota (yes, yes, my alma mater) and set off all the red flags for dreadfully sloppy thinking. It’s an invitation to a webinar, and is sans original formatting:
Topic Why Everyone Deserves a Health and Wellbeing Coach
Description These unprecedented times bring many new challenges and stresses. Every one of us has faced changes in our responsibilities, our routines, and our expectations. People have reported levels of stress, anxiety, and depression are at record highs. We know that lifestyle behaviors and social determinants of health play a larger role in our overall health and wellbeing than any medical intervention does. These difficult times have created an opportunity for reflection that has brought to light the desire for new, intentional life choices for many people.
Of course taking action to make intentional changes in our beliefs and behaviors is not easy. Health coaches are trained to help people effectively navigate lifestyle changes; they partner with people seeking self-directed, lasting changes that are aligned with their values in order to enhance their lives. They hold unconditional positive regard for their clients and a belief in their capacity for change, and honor each person as the expert of their life. That’s where the magic happens.
In this webinar we will explore:
• What health coaching is and how to find a credentialed coach
• When health coaching can be particularly useful
• How health coaching can help you find optimal wellbeing in all aspects of your life
Yep, nowhere in that list is a reason why I deserve a health and well-being coach. They don’t recognize my self-awarded Nobel prize, or self-awarded Pulitzer prize, or the made up fact that I found a five pound diamond in my backyard. In fact, I cannot see anything in their communication that even approaches a justification for using the word deserves.
I feel like I should be sending them a book on Honest Communications, but I suspect they’d retreat into intellectual sophistry at the very idea that they’ve engaged in deceitful word choices. Perhaps I should endorse their communications style and send them a copy of The Persuaders, instead, just to be a contributing member of the team?
Ah, but I’m not a member of the team, now am I?
Wow. What an utter disappointment the University has just become.
