Choosing The Perfect Coach

So, you're ready to start coaching. You either have some issues that you think a coach can help you overcome, or you just think it's time for a quality of life tune-up. You've reviewed your budget and set aside some money to cover the fees and you've ascertained that you are reasonably free of any serious mental or emotional issues that might interfere with the process. But now comes the big question: "How can I find a coach that's right for me?"

To Niche Or Not To Niche?

For starters, you need to know what kind of coach you want to work with. Do you want a generalist or someone who specializes in your issue or lifestyle? Some professionals hang out the shingle of a "life coach" and field anything and everything that comes their way, within their own personal standards and competencies. Others specialize so tightly that you wonder how they can find a big enough market to stay in business (and yet, they do!). A generalist can be great if you're not sure what your main issue is, or if you want the freedom to move around from one life issue to another over a wide range of areas and subjects, whereas a specialist is perfect for someone who wants to concentrate on a very specific segment of their life or activities. And for every possible niche, problem, situation or person there are at least a handful of coaches - parenting coaches, menopause coaches, family coaches, business coaches, family business coaches, custody coaches and coaches for single dad's who own their own business and who want to be better fathers and businessmen (see what I mean about a narrow market wedge?). If you live it, run it, do it or live through it there's a coach out there who works with people just like you.

Quack or Jack?

One thing you should know before setting off to find a coach is that as of this writing (9/04), there is no consistent or required certification process for coaches in America (or in many other countries, that I know of). However, that does not mean that the industry is full of fakes and fumblers. As in many professions, lack of credentials do not necessarily indicate a lack of skills and ability any more than a wall full of degrees guarantees them.

Currently, the International Coaching Federation and the International Association of Coaches are the top two certifying boards in America. However, since coach certification itself is so new, very few coaches have been certified to date. This means that there are thousands of perfectly competent and even gifted coaches out there with no "papers" to speak of. So how do you tell a good coach from a bad one? The only real way to tell is to do your homework. Ask for references from prior clients. Check to see if the coach in question is a registered member of any of the ethical regulating boards, such as the IAC or ICF. If your coach gets results, doesn't cross any ethical lines (diagnosing mental illness, offering guarantees of improvement, crossing personal/professional boundaries, etc) and fits well with your personality and way of being, then you are probably in good hands.

I'm Hunting Coaches

Now that you have chopped down your decision, it's time to go on the hunt for some coaches who meet your needs on availability, price and personality. Naturally, personal recommendation is always the simplest way to find any pro service supplier, as they come prescreened and pre-approved by folk you trust.

If you do not know anyone that can suggest a coach, one of the simplest paths to find one is through a coach referral system. Be certain the referring site's wants for listing submissions meet your private suggestions for coaches - some sites need not much more than a submission fee. A couple of the more preferred and reputable coach referral sites are Coachville, the Global organisation of Coaches, the Global Coach Federation, and the ECU Training Institute.

Take a look at the possible coach's profile and their site, if they've got one. Do they affect a sense of competence and professionalism? Read thru any articles or other material they have written to get an understanding of what type of person they are and whether their perspectives and outlook mesh with yours.

See whether they provide a free first interview - most do - and set up a call with your top picks. Come prepared with a catalogue of queries you would like to ask - do not forget to ask about price, frequency of sessions, between session support like emails and short lived telephone calls and anything more that you can think about that gives you pause. Share any fears and concerns you have with the coach and concentrate on how they answer as much as what they are saying. Are they evasive, or effusive? Do they make certain they know your query totally before responding or did they give you a canned speech? Are they warm and inviting or short and fast-paced? You will have to choose for yourself who fits your personality best - ask about cancellation policies if you are worried about getting "stuck" in a training relationship - but if you follow these rules you will have a sound start on your next great journey - exploring you. Bon voyage!