Choosing The Right Coach

Are you thinking about working with a coach? Are you looking for ways to make sure that you hire the right coach? It is estimated that there are over 70,000 people calling themselves coaches worldwide. Since the coaching industry is in its infancy, standards are still being developed for the industry. What this means is that anyone can call themselves a coach. To ensure that you hire a coach that is qualified to assist you in creating the results that you want, use the following tips to ensure you have a great experience:

1. Check Their Credentials

You want to make sure that the coach you hire is properly trained to be a coach. Ask your potential coach where they received their coach training from. Additionally, find out if they are certified as a professional coach. If they are a PCC (Professional Certified Coach), or an MCC (Master Certified Coach), you can be pretty sure that they are excellent at what they do.

2. Ask About Their Experience

How long have they been coaching? How many clients have they coached? What have the results been? How much of their business is coaching, versus therapy, consulting, or some other role? What is their area of expertise? These are great questions to ask, as there are many people who have jumped on the coaching bandwagon. Find out what you are really dealing with!

3. Talk to Their Clients

Make sure that you get a couple of references, and talk to those people about their experience with the coach. What are the results that they have achieved? How long did it take? This is the best way to ensure that you have a positive coaching experience.

4. Find Out if They Support the Coaching Profession

Ask if they are a member of the International Coaching Federation, which is the standards body for the coaching industry. If they are not a member, ask them why. Supporting the coaching profession is another sign that the coach you are dealing with is legitimate.

5. Check Out Their Contract and Fee Structure

Be weary of long-term contracts and outrageous coaching fees. Most professional coaches work on a month-to-month basis and charge reasonable fees for coaching. Be careful with long-term contracts and outrageous fees. If you are going to pay them, make sure the coach has the track record to back it up.

6. Make Sure They Offer You a Complimentary Session

You will want to experience the style of the coach before you hire them. One of the keys to a great coaching experience is that you have a good rapport and feel comfortable with your coach. A complimentary session is a great way to test this out!

Keep in mind that coaching is an investment in you, as well as your business. Make sure you do your homework and hire the right coach for you, so that you have a great experience!