Working with a coach is incredibly powerful and I would (obviously) urge you to engage a coach :o)

However, how do you find one; how do you select one and how do you know if you like working with them?

How to find a Coach

Firstly, take some time out and work out what you are looking to achieve.  What are your goals and why are they important to you.

Then speak to your friends, family and colleagues to ask for recommendations.  80-90% of all of my new clients are referrals.  Coaching is such a personal connection that requires a great deal of trust, so using your closest contacts to provide a recommendation is a great place to start.

What if that draws a blank?

Invest some time (a lot of time) into searching online for coaches to identify a handful that resonate with you.  Read their blogs, watch their videos and listen to their podcasts.  Do they resonate with you?  Do you think you could work with them?

This is the reason why I produce Upgraded Executive, wrote Limitless and have over 50 blog posts.  If potential clients can get to know me even a little bit, then there is a greater chance they will reach out for a conversation.

There are also directories of coaches out there which you can use as a starter for 10.  Check out the International Coaching Federation (ICF) – it’s a good place to start.

How to select a coach

Now that you have a long list or short list you are now in a position to ask yourself the following questions:

• Has the coach been certified by a professional organisation such as the International Coaching Federation?  Is this important to you?
• Does the coach talk about the issues you are looking to address?
• Do they have testimonials that come across as authentic?
• Does the coach offer a Discovery session or an option to ‘try before you buy’?
• Does the coach focus on your outcomes?
• What credibility does the coach have?  Have they authorised a book? Do they speak at events? Do they have a podcast or blog?

The most important aspect is the ability to ‘try before you buy’ and this is why I offer a complementary 90 minute Discovery session which enables the potential client to find out more about me, the coaching programme and experience what it is like to be coached by me.  This is also important from my perspective because I will only work with people who I genuinely feel I can help.  If I don’t feel there is a good fit, then I won’t work with the client but will refer them to another coach or professional that I think can help. 

The Discovery sessions are very much a two-way meeting because there has to be trust and a connection on both sides.  It is a lot more than a financial transaction.

How do you know if you like working with them?

So, you have had the Discovery session and you feel that the coach is the right one for you but you’ve only spent 90 minutes with them and committing to a longer term relationship may sound daunting.  What if you start to work with the coach and you feel they aren’t right for you?

I offer clients the option to withdraw from the programme within the first 30 days with no questions asked.  Fortunately, it has never happened but having the option to do so gives potential clients the comfort factor. This isn’t something that all coaches offer, so definitely ask about what happens if you change your mind in the early stages of the engagement.

I hope this helps you with finding a coach.

If you are interested in having a discussion around coaching, please do get in touch.