How do I chose the right coach for me?
If you’ve read my earlier blog “So … what actually is Coaching?” then you’ll know that the relationship between coach and client is really important. Some people refer to it as ‘chemistry’, and it’s key to achieving great outcomes together. The majority of coaches will offer a complimentary session to enable you to see who they are, how they work and what they are like. It also gives them the chance to see if they think they are the best fit for you. On more than one occasion I myself have referred potential new clients to a fellow coach when I think they can serve them better.
I’d suggest meeting at least three potential coaches. This will give you a feel for styles and personalities; a bit like buying a house, generally when you find the ‘right’ one you just know.
It’s useful to have a few checklist questions for yourself. Maybe something along the lines of:
Do you feel comfortable with them?
Do you think you’ll be able to be challenged by them, and are you likely to listen?
Does your gut feel like they have your back?
While qualifications aren’t everything given the breadth of people who label themselves ‘a coach’, if you are thinking of going with someone who isn’t a personal recommendation I’d definitely suggest checking what certification they have. I might be slightly biased but I believe that the International Coaching Federation credentialing is the gold standard. The letters you are looking for are ACC, PCC or MCC.
Where do I find potential coaches?
As with most things, doing a standard online search will give you lots of results - finding a coach this way is a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack! The following avenues are ways in which I’d suggest you narrow down the search:
Personal recommendations from people who have already had coaching. Even if their coach isn’t suitable for you, they may well be able to suggest someone else who is.
Do you know someone who is a coach? Ask them for recommendations – most have a good network of other coaches.
If the above don’t work for you then the ICF website has a search function for credentialed coaches by a range of topics such as services, experience, demographic etc.
I know this might all feel a bit overwhelming so feel free to drop me a note and I can help point you in the right direction.
My personal journey and how it might help you …
I thought it would be useful to share some reflections on my own experiences of coaches, and how these drive my approach to finding fruitful coaching relationships in the future.
Unsurprisingly, I am very much a fan of having a coach! I’ve found them super helpful at different points throughout my life and career. Having said that, there were times when I was (lucky enough to be) allocated one by my employer and found it just didn’t work. This highlights to me the importance of chemistry.
Two great coaching relationships stick out in my mind but for very different reasons:
I was exploring with my coach which direction I wanted my career to go in. In the past I had found coaches either focused heavily on my MS or ignored it completely, rather than just having it there in the mix. This coach’s husband had MS and it was so useful as she just ‘got it’. Sometime the MS fed into discussions and sometimes it didn’t, but it was never the elephant in the room. I would not be where I am today without having had this coaching relationship and for that I am eternally grateful.
My career has predominantly been financial services and corporate focused and I was exploring work / life balance with my coach (not an unusual subject!). The interesting thing about this coach was that she was someone who in every day life I would never cross paths with. To put it mildly, she was a bit of a hippie. I am so grateful that our paths did cross though, as she helped me see things in new ways, which led to some amazing changes for me. I didn’t leave the corporate world to join a commune I hasten to add! But it was really amazing how exploring my situation with someone who had a completely different viewpoint opened up new ways of thinking and approaching things.
Hopefully these two examples plus the guidance above show that there isn’t a standard answer to ‘who is the best coach for me’ - it’s more a case of finding the right coach for you, at this point in time. As always if you want to talk or bounce ideas off someone, just drop me a note through my website.