A Guide To Finding The Right Coach
How to choose the right coach.
There are many different types of coaches to choose from and it can be difficult to know who might be the best coach for you. Do you need a life coach? A leadership coach? A transition coach? A luck coach? A career coach? A mindset coach? A health and wellness coach? These are just some of the different types of coaching which exist, and while there are similarities between them all, the success of your experiences will depend on 3 key things: their skills, your mindset and their relationship with you.
In the same way, if you are looking for a book to read, you know that there are books out there which might inspire you, inform you, educate you, amuse you, entertain you or leave you cold. The first step is to decide what kind of book would suit you right now and then try it out a little:
Do some research
Look for award winners
Ask for recommendations and read the reviews
Read the blurb
Try reading the first few pages and see if you like them.
Then make up your mind if this is the right book for you.
Finding the right coach is very similar so here are my suggested steps for finding the right coach for you:
1, Do some research
First of all, consider what it is you are hoping that coaching will help you with. What is missing for you? What questions are you holding? Do you want to work with someone face-to-face or online? Which time of the day would work best for you? What will be different by the end of your coaching contract?
Once you have a better idea of what you need then it is worth researching the companies and individuals who match what you are looking for. This can be overwhelming, like walking into a 5 storey bookstore to find the one book you might enjoy. Though it pains me to write this, AI can be really useful here. See which wording fits with your search.
2, Look for accolades
In the same way that you might be more confident of quality with a Booker Prize winning writer compared to an unknown author, there is an element of risk involved when working with an inexperienced or unqualified coach.
A word of advice would be to always check the qualifications of potential coaches. Anyone can call themselves a coach, so if you are looking for someone who is experienced and qualified, make sure that they are accredited, either with the ICF (ACC/PCC), the EMCC (EIA) or the ILM (UK only).
Trainee coaches often offer free or greatly reduced coaching contracts. These are a great option if your budget is limited and can be a wonderful way of supporting would-be coaches in building up their experience and skills. Be aware though, that you sometimes get what you pay for.
3, Recommendations
Find out who has coaching in your network and see who they might recommend. Which coaching companies or individuals do you see others working with and what do they say about them? Most coaches will have their own website and so look through for testimonials and see which ones might match with what you are looking for.
4, Deeper Research
Reading the blurb of a book is the equivalent to reading website information and going deeper on social media. Most coaches are active on LinkedIn so look to see what they are posting, what their messaging tells you and whether this feels like a good fit for you. Qualifications and vision statements will only go so far, this stage relies on gut instinct. Does this feel like a good fit and is it worth exploring further?
5, Initial meeting
Most coaches will offer a ‘discovery meeting’ or a ‘chemistry call’. This is a free, exploratory conversation between you and your prospective coach. I would recommend speaking to a number of coaches to see what works for you. This conversation should cover how you might work together and might be a discussion around your possible goals. It may also cover practical arrangements and coaching philosophies. The most important role of this initial meeting, however, is for you to decide if this is someone you can work with.
Some questions to consider:
Is this someone I feel I can be vulnerable with?
Is this someone who is curious and not judging me?
Is this someone who will challenge me?
Is this someone who will hold me accountable?
Is this someone I feel I can trust?
If the answer to all of these questions is yes, and the pricing is agreeable, and the terms are acceptable, then it is time to get started.
And remember, just like any book, if you decide halfway through that you’re not enjoying it or it isn’t doing what you need it to do, then put it down. There are plenty of others out there that might be a better fit.
I have always believed that people who don’t like reading just haven’t found the right book yet. I hope you find the coach who meets all of your needs.
