Pick a coach, any coach!

If you’re thinking of hiring a coach, you’re not alone. There are over 1.5 million online searches every month for business, executive and life coaches, so there is clearly a lot of demand for this type of development.

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And little wonder. Coaching can be truly transformative. The positive impact on leadership and business performance is well documented.?Research by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), states 86 per cent of organisations saw a return on investment through coaching and a whopping 96 per cent of people who experienced an executive coach said they’d do it again.?

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However, getting tangible results for your investment often comes down to hiring the right coach for your business and executive.?With tens of thousands of coaching practitioners globally, and many of them waving questionable coaching certificates, this can feel like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.?

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When seeking a coaching provider, do it with a keenly critical eye, just as you would if you were hiring a new employee. Our latest article details 5 key questions to ask a coach to help you make the best decision for you and your organisation. We include a lot more detail in the article on our website , but to summarise, if you are hiring a coach be sure to ask the following questions:

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1. What’s your professional experience outside of coaching?

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Look for a coach who understands the complexities of corporate life at executive level, can provide appropriate support for the coachee, within the organisational context. This often means experience in corporate environments.

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2. How long have you been a coach? And what’s your typical client profile?

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Look for a coach who has experience with stakeholders at appropriate levels and in organisations of a similar size. Plus, they need to have done the coaching hours.

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3. What coaching training do you have? Where did you study?

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Don’t be dazzled by coaching accreditations. Look beyond LinkedIn banners and dig deeper into their coach training. Check if the training is highly regarded within the coaching industry and complies with professional standards and ethical codes of conduct.

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4. Can you describe your approach and the frameworks you use?

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Successful coaches prioritise trust building and offer a wide repertoire of frameworks and perspectives to get the best results with clients. Look for a coach who is practical and understands the context of the coachee.

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5. How do you ensure successful outcomes for both the organisation and the individual?

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The most effective coach takes a ‘system level’ view of the engagement. They manage the complexities of working on both the organisation’s and the individual’s challenges and objectives simultaneously. Look for a coach who can explain how they do that.

Finding the right coach is a significant time and money investment. Apply these questions and criteria and you’ll be well on your way to hiring the right coach for your business.

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For more information on how we select our coaches, or to discuss executive and transition coaching options, set up a call here , send a DM or sign up for our newsletter for more successful executive transition insights.

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Cheers,

Ellie