Choose the right coach for you
When you decide to seek coaching, you’re making an empowered choice to invest resources in your personal development and have so much to gain through the process. The partnership you’ll form with your coach is powerful, personal, and can take you much further than books, workshops, and webinars.
But key to your experience and results is selecting the right coach to partner with. Here are some questions to keep in mind:
Does their coaching style match what you’re looking for? Will you be following a set program or do they offer a personalized approach? Do they ask great questions that invite you to explore and create solutions/plans that feel aligned, or do they tend toward offering advice (and what is the balance here you’re looking for?)
Are they someone you connect well with? Do you feel seen, heard, and safe to explore in the areas you want support? Do you trust them (this is key, as coaching is of limited value without a safe container of mutual trust)?
What do you need from the relationship? Do you want someone to challenge and push you (and to what extent) or do you want to be told what you want to hear? Do they offer the level of support, accountability, or encouragement you want?
Do they have the experience you’re seeking (both professionally and in life)? Is it important to you that their life experience relates to where you’d like to focus (for example, I coach sporty souls, and my 25+ years as a competitive endurance athlete informs my understanding of my clients)? What results have they achieved with their clients?
Do they offer a clear coaching agreement (number and frequency of sessions, fees) and can they offer you flexibility if you need it? Do they offer a confidentiality agreement?
As you choose your coach, keep in mind that the coaching industry is unregulated. This means anyone can call themselves a coach, even if they have no coach training or commitment to upholding high professional standards. This is important to consider. Do you want life advice from someone, or do you want to experience the full potential of what a trained coach can offer you?
And finally, keep an eye out for any red flags. These may include:
Feeling pressured into working with someone
Sales tactics that don’t sit well with you
Guaranteed results if you work together (yes, powerful results are possible but cannot be guaranteed)
A “one size fits all” or “what worked for me will work for you” approach (you are unique and deserve a personalized coaching approach)
A feeling in your gut you can’t ignore that this is not the right situation for you
As a professional coach, it’s a tremendous honour to partner with my clients as they work toward results they’re proud of in both sport and life. Find the coach who feels like the right fit for you, and explore what’s possible!