How to choose the right Coach.

You may have decided you need a coach, so now what? This year LinkedIn saw over seven million people describe themselves as coaches on their profiles. With a pool this large, how do you know which coach is the right one for you? Coaching is a very personal thing, and what works for one person may not be right for another. The first question to ask yourself is “what do I want from a coach?”

What changes would you like a Coach to support you to achieve? Photo Bruce Mars Unsplash

There are several different types of coach, all fulfilling different requirements. There are life coaches, leadership coaches, team, executive, career and management coaches - the list goes on…

Regardless of the type of coach you choose, they will most likely apply several models of coaching, which could include;

●      Cognitive behavioural

●      Agile

●      Neuro-linguistic programming

●      Positive psychology

●      Strengths based coaching

●      Gestalt

●      Competency-based coaching

Which coach you choose depends on the outcomes you want to achieve. Coaching can provide a range of benefits including; reduced stress and anxiety, improved resilience, better decision making, clearer direction, more functional relationships (at home and/or at work) improved self-awareness, greater self-confidence and self belief, increased productivity, clearer critical thinking and improved leadership skills. It can challenge self-limiting beliefs, help you break bad habits, prevent self-sabotage and help you break out of feeling ‘stuck’ if you know you need to move on.

It’s important to note that a good coach can’t (and shouldn’t) tell you what to do - their role is to enable you to work it out for yourself, by asking the right questions and applying techniques to help you unlock the answers that are already inside you.

A great Coaching relationship has the right balance of Support & Challenge Photo Christina Wocentechchat Unsplash

Finding a good coach takes a little effort on your part. It’s a good idea to research their websites and social media profiles to get a feel for their approach and personality, and also read any testimonials or case studies. Have they helped people similar to yourself, or do they operate in a different sphere? Often coaches will specialise in helping a particular group of people or address a certain issue. Are they the right fit for you?  

It’s also important to ensure they have the appropriate qualifications. Anyone can call themselves a coach, but not everyone has the necessary qualifications and level of experience to meet your needs. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there claiming to be a ‘coach’ who have little or no experience or ability. These people are at best ineffective and at worst do more harm than good to their clients. If they can’t demonstrate their credentials, treat it as a big red flag 

Coaching can’t be viewed as a quick fix. It’s a long game, and anyone expecting immediate results is likely to be disappointed. It takes time to build the trust and rapport necessary to delve deeper into the issues you need to address and reach a solution. For this reason, many coaches will offer a free introductory session to gauge whether you have the right chemistry to be able to progress together - it’s a two-way street, and if the relationship is not a good fit for you both, either one of you is entitled to part company.

Coaching is not a passive process. It requires a significant level of investment from you - in terms of time and finances, as well as open-mindedness, honesty and a willingness to make changes. Good chemistry is essential to enable you to open up and talk about topics which may be uncomfortable, such as admitting your weaknesses and addressing areas where behavioural change is necessary.

What improvements do you want to make? Photo Elisabeth Wales-Evaz Unsplash

Change is difficult - it goes against our natural desire to preserve the status quo. This is a primitive instinct to keep ourselves safe, but it doesn’t serve us well in the modern working world, where changing and adapting to the VUCA world is necessary to progress.

Choosing a coach may sound like too much hard work, but it’s worth putting in the effort. Often the benefits of coaching continue to be reaped long after the actual coaching sessions have ended, as it can completely change your perception of self and outlook on the world. It provides you with a new skill set and way of thinking that enhances decision-making and life choices. This can lead you to follow paths you might otherwise never have considered, and give you greater confidence to pursue your goals and ambitions.

If you’d like a chat to see if I might be the right coach for you, please do get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.