Five Steps For Choosing a Coach

The coaching industry is growing rapidly.

It used to be rare to have a coach; now it’s quite commonplace. But as coaching gets more common, finding the right coach is getting more and more complex.?

As the industry grows, so, it seems, do the different kinds of coaches. There are mindset coaches, life coaches, transformational coaches, business coaches, career coaches, relationship coaches, parenting coaches, health coaches, personal development coaches, leadership coaches, creativity coaches, industry-specific coaches, and more! Some coaches have developed their own methodology and others are certified to practice or franchise someone else's methodology.?

No matter what type of coach you are seeking or what their particular niche might be, at the end of the day, you are seeking their help to solve a problem. You want them to help you get from where you are to where you want to be. You want them to help facilitate a positive change.

A transformational coach (which, let’s face it, all good coaches are) is helping you to transform your life from what it is to what you dream it will be.

So how do you go about finding the best coach for you?

Here are 5 steps to help you find the right coach.

STEP 1: DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT OR NEED FROM A COACH

Really take the time to investigate what it is that you are after in the coaching experience. What is the end goal that you want to achieve through coaching? Is it:

• Peace of mind
• Clarity of purpose
• Self-confidence
• A personal daily practice
• Accountability
• The completion of specific creative or professional goals
• Developing skills in a particular area
• Completing a long dreamt project
• Making a major life change

In reality, it might be all of the above.

Almost every client that comes to me, regardless of their field or area of interest, is seeking clarity. They might also be seeking training in some specific area of interest, but they are always seeking a greater sense of clarity, confidence, and creative freedom.

Once you have an idea of what you want, the search begins.

STEP 2: DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE WITH EVERY COACH YOU CONSIDER?

Much like a doctor, an attorney, or a therapist, your coach is a service provider that you are hiring.?

• Consider their success history as a coach. You want to have access to endorsements and testimonials. Seek conversations with someone who has worked with your prospective coach.
• Consider their credentials, education, or career history. What are their other areas of expertise?
• What free content can you access from them?
• What do they have on social media or YouTube?
• Do they have a podcast?
• What information or free gifts do they have on their website?

Explore their website, both for information about them and their business, and for a feel about who they are. If they seem like someone you would love to know, you might just be on the right track.?

If they have a book, read it.

The $20 investment in the book will help you make a better decision about the much bigger investment in the coaching itself.

Remember, you are seeking a coach to help you overcome limiting beliefs. Be sure not to let your limiting beliefs play into your choice of a coach. Don’t choose a coach because:

• They’re in a picture with somebody cool,?
• They have a bunch of coaching certifications. Certifications means they bought a program, it does not tell you what they learned.
• They have a flashy marketing program?
• You are intimidated by their fame, their authoritative voice, their claims, or the pressure of their sales team.

STEP 3: MEET YOUR PROSPECTIVE COACH BEFORE YOU SIGN UP

In this day and age, almost any coach worth their salt is going to offer a free, no-obligation strategy or discovery call. Book a 15 - 20 minute discovery call on Zoom with any coach you are considering. Write down all your questions, concerns, wants, and desires, and bring them with you to the call.?

Make sure that during the call you feel that:

• You are listened to. (If you are learning more about them, than they are about you, that’s a bad sign.)
• You are treated like a client. (You get some laser coaching during the call.)
• You are comfortable, safe, inspired, and energized with your prospective coach.?

Ultimately, it’s all about their personality resonating with your personality, which is why I recommend that you shy away from programs that say, “We’ll match you with one of the members of our coaching team.”

You’re not seeking a how. It’s not about methodology. You are looking for someone who helps you bring your best to every day of your life whatever the circumstance, situation, specifics, and details. It’s all about what they bring out of you.

STEP 4: TREAT IT LIKE ANY OTHER MAJOR INVESTMENT

I am a coach. Obviously, I believe in the value of coaching. But like any significant investment, this decision should be made mindfully and with a goal in mind. Most of all, it should not be done out of fear.

Don’t impulse buy. This does not have to happen today, no matter what their marketing might imply. Take the time to do STEP 2.

Consider the financial ramifications. This is a long-term investment in yourself.?

There are a lot of sales pitches out there today. Don’t get pressured into buying. If you feel pressured, stop the call, step back, and take some time to consider what this means in your life, in your work, and in your financial well-being.

Treat this like any other major investment: budget for it. Don't take grocery money to hire a coach. The money that you invest in coaching should be in excess of all your daily needs.

STEP 5: FOLLOW YOUR HEART

When all is said and done, it will all come down to your intuition.?

If this coach feels like the person who can help you to:

• Let go of limiting beliefs, fears, and self-sabotage
• Turn ideas into outcomes
• Turn obstacles into opportunities
• Turn limitations into inspiration
• Develop your unique skills and toolsets
• Identify and share your unique creative genius
• Trade confusion for clarity of purpose
• And step into the greater life that is calling you

Then go for it!

If you have any questions at all, you are more than welcome to email me at [email protected] or to jump on my calendar for an appointment with this link?https://calendly.com/spontaneousbrilliance/discoverycall