You’re ready for a change in your life, but you don’t know where to start. You’re feeling stuck and you’d like a little help getting unstuck. So, you’ve decided it’s time to find a coach.
Finding a professional that is right for you isn’t as easy as you’d thought it would be, though. You don’t have time or money to waste, so you took to social media. You posted in large group asking for referrals to a fantastic coach. What you received in response was…well, overwhelming. Suddenly you have multiple coaches trying to pitch you their services. And don’t forget the people who obviously didn’t read the entire post before responding to offer their two cents.
What do you do? This certainly isn’t working. You start to think that maybe it isn’t worth the trouble. How do you find someone who can help you? Do you even need a coach? Maybe you can do this on your own. Right?
Before you throw your hands up and call it a day, let’s talk about how to know you’ve found the ideal coach to work with you.
Life Coaches: Are they all the same?
The short answer is no, coaches are not the same. There are as many different approaches as there are coaches. Determining whether you need a life coach, a career coach, a business coach, or someone who is somewhere in between starts with figuring out where you are right now.
Step back and examine your life. What do you see? Do you see an emerging pattern? Perhaps you feel taken advantage of in both your personal and professional life. Or, maybe your personal life is providing you with fulfillment and happiness, but you can’t quite seem to grasp the professional position you so desire. Possibly you’re a business owner who has discovered that there is something holding you back from success. Whatever it is, think about what you’d like to accomplish.
What’s your goal? Why are you choosing to hire someone?
The answer to that question will help you to determine exactly what kind of coach you need.
Life Coach, Career Coach, Who Do You Choose?
If you took to social media to ask for a recommendation for coaches, then you probably have several options for a coach that could be a good fit for you.
To narrow down the selection, let’s start with some simple definitions. A coach is a person who will provide counsel and encouragement in matters that affect your personal and professional life. A life coach is someone who focuses more on your personal life. A career coach focuses on helping you determine the best career path for you, and a business coach will focus on helping you in your business.
Many times, we most often need help with our mindset; we need someone to change our perspective about something by a few degrees to problem-solve from a different angle. A good coach can help you do that, if you’re willing to put in the work, too.
How Do You Choose a Reliable Coach?
Start with a phone interview with any prospective coaches. Make sure your values align.
Omo, I’m not asking them about their morality.
That’s not the kind of values I mean. For example, I value hard work and soul-shaking honesty—the kind that doesn’t allow us to lie to ourselves for an instant. When talking with a coach, ask them what they value, what’s important to them in their own life.
Ask the coach you’re speaking with for her (or his) references, and then make sure you follow-through by calling or emailing the references provided.
Discuss with them their strengths and weaknesses. If they’re going to be helping you to identify strengths and weaknesses in your own life, then I’m sure they already know the strengths and weaknesses in their own life. Don’t feel like you’re asking too much, because this is a professional; these questions aren’t personal.
Ask them what you can expect by working with them. Do they have a certain approach? Is their program very structured? Is it more spontaneous? What’s the focus of the program? Do your homework to find the right fit for your personality type.
When choosing a coach, above all else, trust your intuition. Listen to your gut and follow it.
A Coach’s Approach
Listen carefully when a coach is talking about their specific approach. What will that sound like? Well, it won’t sound like a sales pitch. It will sound like what motivates them to do what they do the way they do it.
For me, my approach is based on the belief that we can grow and change and be more—that we can leave behind everything we aren’t and be exactly who we are underneath it all. I help women get out of the trap of “doing” instead of “being.” I do this by utilizing specific tools to help my clients uncover their natural strengths and abilities, gain clarity in their life, and then build on those steps to gain momentum. It isn’t something I can do for my clients, but I walk alongside them as they not only cope with the challenges but also emerge triumphant.
My goal as a Certified Emotional Mastery & Intelligent Leadership Executive Neuro Coach is to help every client who comes to me step outside of the box they’ve put themselves in to stretch and grow in the ways they were always meant to.
Talk to any potential coach about their approach, and you will know what they’re passionate about.
If you’re ready to talk with me to learn more about my approach and how I work with my clients, sign up for a Get Out of That Rut Power Session. I look forward to speaking with you.
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