What to Look for in a Coach

Copyright (c) 2008 Pat Brill

Have you considered the possibility of including a Coach into your support system. Top performers know it's important to find and utilize many venues in developing their careers. The right one-on-one coaching relationship can move your career and your life forward faster and better.

Depending on what area you want to move forward in, you would want to find the right Coach to collaborate with you in this process.

"Coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential." (International Coaching Federation)

==> Here are some basics when searching for your coach.

--Coaching doesn't require a license or any certification credentials from the State. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) (www.CoachFederation.org) is the organization that creates standards for the coaching profession. Most competent coaches are members of this organization, meeting the requirement of receiving professional training in one of their approved coaching schools.

--Coaching is a specific skill that enables the individual to maximize their efforts. Just because a Coach has knowledge in an industry doesn't mean they can be an effective coach for you. Make sure they have received training on the "art of coaching."

--Find a coach who has the experience and ability to guide you in the area you want to improve. Most coaches have a niche they concentrate on...executive coaching, presentation skills, managing employees, career coaching.

--Before you approach a Coach, be clear about what you want to work on. Change takes time, so be prepared to build in the time to insure that your coaching is successful. They usually say an initial time to commit is three to six months, meeting your coach approximately 3 times a month. Each coach offers different packages. Coaches have different length of times they work with a person. The range is 30 to 60 minutes for each session. It depends on what your focus is because 30 minutes, if the coach is providing laser coaching, can be just as effective as a 60-minute session.

--Some coaches offer a complimentary coaching session to see if there is a fit between both of you. Contact 3 different coaches and invest those 30-45 minutes to selecting the right person for you.

--Question the coach about their coaching model...this gives you insight on how they work. All coaches have to create their own model if they want to be successful in moving a client along in their goals.

--Ask them how they know when the coaching sessions are working for a client.

==>What Will Your Coach Offer You?

--Clarity of what you want to accomplish

--Help you set powerful goals that stretch you to accomplishing your best

--Provide feedback to guide you in eliminating self-defeating behavior

--Keep you accountable to moving forward with your goals

==>Next Steps

--Take time to decide what you want to work on. Where do you want to go in your career, what areas do you need to improve, or what skills do you want to develop in order to be successful.

--Review International Coach Federation website to gain information about coaching. The more you know the more you are able to access the right Coach for you. ICF offers a list of professionals that you can use to start your research.

--Get recommendations from other people in the company...or check your HR department as they may have resources they can recommend.

--Select 3 coaches you want to meet and request a complimentary session.

--Come prepared to those complimentary sessions with a list of questions for them. Also bring a small problem you want to work on so you can access their coaching style. You want a coach who is skilled in laser coaching since that is an effective tool for some areas you want to work on.

Now you are ready to start your coaching experience...you will be happy that you made the decision.