How to search for an executive coach

- So you've decided that you want to work with an executive coach, but where does one begin their search? An obvious answer is to do a general online search, and a lot of my clients do find me through Google. But here are some more specific things to keep in mind when doing your search for your ideal executive coach. Number one, search for coaches with certain credentials and experience. Look for certifications and qualifications that indicate the coach's expertise. While this isn't necessary, some people prefer coaches with certifications and that have been vetted by certain organizations. For example, searching for coaches with the International Coach Federation certifications, which is an industry recognized credential that signifies professional standards for coaches. Number two, search for coaches with experience working with executives. Some executive coaches such as myself work exclusively with senior level professionals, which can be a good fit if you're in a high stakes role. While other coaches may offer general career coaching for individuals just entering the job force, or those pursuing management roles depending on where you are in your professional journey, what you're looking for in a coach will differ. And number three, search for coaches using a professional platform such as LinkedIn, while Google will give you thousands if not millions of results to sort through for an executive coach beginning on LinkedIn can help you narrow down the selection to people you might be connected to on the platform on LinkedIn. You can also easily see the coach's professional experience and past clients if they have an updated profile, and you can reach out to those individuals or companies if you like.