How to find the right business coach (hint: they might not be one)

When I talk to younger professionals, many of them ask me the same question: ‘How do I find a good business coach?’

Most people understand the value of working with coaches, teachers, and mentors, but finding the right fit can be a challenge.

Here are some tips to help with your search.

1. Be open-minded

I’ve been coached by some incredible people throughout my career, but very few of these people called themselves coaches. Many of them were colleagues, family friends or relatives.

Don’t just focus on your own professional field for a potential mentor or coach, I’ve been lucky enough to find help from people in very different industries. Our work isn’t necessarily related, but they offer excellent business perspective and have strengths that I don’t. They wouldn’t describe themselves as a coach, but that’s a role they play in my life.

I’m telling you this to encourage you to stay open-minded in your search: you never know who might be well-placed to offer you advice and share their knowledge.  

The perfect business coach for you could be your uncle, your dad’s friend, or your boss.

2. Network frequently

Make a point of connecting with different people. The easiest way to do this is by networking.

Many people find networking intimidating, but really it’s just about having conversations. Ask people questions. Aim to understand what they do.

If you get along, the conversation will flow freely; you’ll find you have plenty in common and talking won’t feel difficult. From there, a coaching relationship might follow. Or it might not (see point three).  

3. Don’t ask someone to be your coach (unless you’re paying them)

Imagine you meet an inspiring leader at a networking event. You know you could learn a lot from them and you really want them to become your coach.

But asking the question – “will you be my coach?” – can put unnecessary pressure on the relationship.

Instead, why not try treating them like your coach without putting a label on it? You can do this by asking them questions or asking for feedback about a particular issue you’re facing.

You’ll be able to tell pretty quickly whether they’re interested in sharing their knowledge with you or if they’re too busy. Regardless, try to keep your questions concise and specific and to respect their time.

4. Consider hiring a professional business coach

Hiring a professional coach or mentor can be a fantastic way to learn. Professional coaches offer structured support and accountability. You’ll probably meet once or twice a week and the coach will set you tasks and challenges.

A professional coach’s job is to challenge you and help you achieve your goals as quickly and efficiently as possible. You’re paying for focused, high-level support.

5. Remember: experience is more important than opinion

A final thing to keep in mind as you search for a coach is to look for people with experience, not just strong opinions.

Talking from experience is much more important than talking from opinion. When people give you advice, ask yourself: can they back this advice up with real experience? Are they sharing personal stories and anecdotes from their career or is their advice speculation?

‘Coachability’ is a superb trait, but that doesn’t mean you should open yourself up to advice from anyone and everyone.

How do you know if you need a coach?

Now you have some tips for finding a good coach. But how do you know when you need one?

I believe one of the biggest signs you need a coach is if you’re feeling disconnected from your friends or family. Unless you work in the same industry, they probably won’t be that interested in the ins and outs of your career. It’s important to find someone to ‘talk shop’ with so you don’t feel isolated.

A coach can fill that void and help you feel more connected to your work. You’ll also be able to get ‘work talk’ out of your system and this will no doubt help your personal relationships.

Here are some other common reasons to work with a coach:

• You’re striving for a promotion or considering a job change.
• You’re lacking motivation, feeling lost, or can’t see a clear path forward.
• You need help with a specific problem or challenge in the workplace.
• You have a desire to learn new skills.
• You want to be held accountable to your goals.

Coaches can help you get a birds-eye-view of your situation and make strategic decisions. Often we get too close to our own problems and need a trusted external advisor to help us gain perspective.

If you could ask a coach one question right now, what would it be? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments.