How to choose a coach?

I love coaching. The value it brings to people, when a client has an “A-ha'“ moment, or when their perspective shifts and they make changes in their lives (big and small). But, not all coaches are made the same - there are great coaches, mediocre coaches and really really bad coaches.

Because the coaching industry is unregulated, literally ANYONE can call themselves a coach. If you are looking for a coach, here are my suggestions for finding a good one.

1. Go on recommendation.

Ask around. Ask your mates, your colleagues, ask other coaches. Not all coaches will be a good fit for you, but good coaches will try and match you with someone who’ll be able to deliver what you need.

2. Gut feel

This is a highly underrated way of telling if a coach is for you. Do you get a good feel from them? Do you want to talk to them more? Do you think they can help you? Or do they make you feel uncomfortable? Gut feel is not woo-woo. It’s instinct and intuition. It’s years of experience and knowledge telling us through a feeling whether something is right or wrong for us.

3. Connection

Do you feel a good connection with them? Do you like them? Do you feel comfortable with them? If you don’t feel a connection with them, then try another coach. You’ll be talking to your coach about your most inner most thoughts, needs and wants. So you’ll want to feel totally safe and comfortable with them.

4. Have a chat with them.

Call them for a chat. Most coaches will want to talk to you before working with you to see if they can help you and to find out if you are a good match for them. Make sure they are curious about you and why you sought out coaching. See if they get a feel for who you really are.

Are they just trying to fix you, or do they truly listen? Do you trust them? Can you talk to them freely?

5. Check out their credentials.

Are they qualified and have they trained with a reputable organization? Good coaches will have done at least 100 hours coach training with a reputable training organization and be registered as a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF). To find out which training organizations are considered reputable, see those listed on the ICF website.

6. Check out their work.

You can get a good feel for a coach by looking at their work. Check out their blog. What topics do they write about? Are they interesting to you? Are they useful? What type of people do they work with? What have their clients said about them?

7. Ask for a test drive.

Coaches will happily talk through how they might be able to help you. And most coaches will offer you a introductory call to see if you’re a good fit for each other. They’ll want to check out whether the chemistry works for them as well.

One thing’s for sure, coaching is not a one size fits all, so contact a few coaches before you decide on one. And if you choose a coach and it’s not working for you, be open with them. They’ll be able to refer you to someone with a different style who may be a better match.