It’s crucial that you take time choosing a coach if you are going to get the return on your investment and reap the rewards of your coaching experience. There are many people who have derived huge benefits from and extol the virtues of their coach whilst unfortunately there are also those who have been disappointed and feel their experience has just left them with a huge hole in their pocket.
- What do you want to achieve?
This is the first question you should ask yourself. Are you looking for help with your whole life, specifically your career or help with relationships? Are you at a crossroads and looking to gain clarity to help you move forward or do you have a specific problem you would like to solve? Are you looking for a sounding board for your ideas or do you just feel stuck in rut and want to escape? Taking some time to think about these questions before you start your search will help you decide who to choose to assist you. If you have some ideas as to what you want to achieve when you speak with prospective coaches you should be able to gauge whether they can help you in the way you want.
- Accreditation
With the rise in popularity of coaching as a profession many unqualified cowboys (and cowgirls) have jumped on the bandwagon and have labelled themselves as coaches. It is important therefore that you understand how qualified that person is to provide you with coaching – what formal coaching qualifications do they possess and what these qualifications mean in practice.
- Skills
There are essential skills a coach should demonstrate to the highest standard such as listening, questioning, building rapport and the capacity to inspire and help you gain clarity. An initial conversation with a prospective coach will give you an indication as to whether they possess these skills. If the coaching process has been clearly explained, and you have been listened to, your needs understood and you feel motivated to take the next step then this coach could be the person to help you achieve your dreams.
- Directive versus non-directive
Do you want a coach who will tell you what to do (not true coaching) or do you want a coach who will help you to find your own solutions. Just asking them whether they are a ‘directive’ or ‘non-directive’ coach may not help. I once asked specifically for a non-directive coach and ended up with the total opposite who spent most of the sessions interrupting me and telling me what I should do! But you may want to ask what their approach is and whether they give solutions or prefer to help the client establish their own actions for moving forward.
- Personality
Just as important as skills and qualifications when choosing a coach is a personality match. You need to find a coach who you ‘click’ with, who inspires you to reach new heights, and who you trust to share your innermost thoughts and feelings.
- Experience
It can be argued that a skilled coach does not have to be experienced in the specific areas in which you need help as they will be asking you questions rather than solving your problems for you). However there are times when you may find that choosing a coach who comes from a similar background or who specializes in a specific area may be better equipped to ask you the questions that will help you move forward and better empathize with you.
- Testimonials
What is the track record of the coach? Be prepared to ask for written testimonials to understand how they have helped others in the past. Decide whether testimonials given are from a credible source and ask whether you can speak with past clients. Of course this may not be possible as there may be confidentiality issues but sometimes clients are prepared to give both written and verbal testimonials.
- How much do you want to pay?You do need to determine your budget for coaching – think about what is it worth to you? However your budget should not get in the way of you considering the other factors above – spending on even the most reasonable priced coach will be a waste of money if they aren’t the right coach for you. See page on
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