How to choose the right coach for you
As coaching has increased in popularity more and more coaches are available to choose from. Every coach will have their own style depending on their course of study, experience and the methods they use.
Here are some things to think of when choosing the right coach for you;
Work out what you want
Firstly, it’s a great idea to really understand what it is you want from coaching. Some coaches specialise in certain areas e.g. career coaching, team dynamics, business, relationships, dealing with addictions, grief, retirement and the list goes on. If you have a specific area of need then you may want to find a coach that specialises in that area.
Rapport
Find someone you feel that you click with and that you can trust. Your gut instinct and intuition will be your best tools here, especially when you first speak to or meet your coach. You will get the most out of your coaching sessions if you are able to fully trust and open up to your coach honestly rather than feeling you need to hide certain things from them. Find a down to earth coach that you can truly relax with.
Get someone independent
One of the benefits of having a coach is having someone independent who can give you totally un-biased assistance. You may have a family member or close friend who’s a coach although even with their best intentions, they can’t help but be involved and this may work even subconsciously to affect the coaching process and dilute what could have been truly objective, powerful coaching.
Check out their qualifications
All professional coaches are formed through an established course and they should be able to prove their qualifications. No two courses are the same and at times people will claim to be life coaches after completing a short weekend workshop (or even with no training at all) through to others who have year long diplomas involving practicum work. Don’t be afraid to ask any potential coaches where they studied and what was involved.
What style of coaching do they use?
The style of coaching will often relate back to the qualifications your coach holds. Do their methodologies sit well with you? Some coaches tend to use simple goal setting, accountability and common sense in their approach, while others will tend to work at a deeper level working with beliefs and values. Some coaches tend to work by giving advice while others will focus on allowing clients to come to their own decisions and realisations while assisting them on that journey. Every coach will have their own style in terms of their balance between encouraging you and challenging you. You need to decide which style is best going to suit and benefit you right now.
What do others say?
Qualifications and training can only go so far and the proof is often in the pudding. The enthusiasm, passion, skill and personal experience that each coach brings to the process is what really determines the quality of the service you will receive. So go straight to the horse’s mouth and see testimonials from clients that your potential coach has recently worked with. If possible you could even ask to speak to a couple of clients that the coach could put you on to, so that you can ask questions directly.
At the end of the day, trust your instinct and you will no doubt find a great coach. And, if for any reason you are not satisfied then discuss your concerns with your coach as they may be able to recommend someone who is better suited for you.
