The other day a friend was quizzing me about coaching and how to go about hiring a coach. It’s a big investment of time, energy and money and going about finding the right coach can be a daunting prospect. How can you maximize your chances of getting it right? What kinds of questions to ask? What to look for? How to ensure a good ‘fit’?
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Find out about coaching. The more informed you are the better. There are plenty of books and articles available online that will give you an idea of what to expect.
2. Think about what you want to get out of coaching.
3. Interview more than one coach before deciding. Ask:
- About his or her relevant experience, qualifications, ask for testimonials or references. Training courses for coaches vary significantly in quality. Effective training programmes will have a significant practical element and be of some length.
- How you will agree on outcomes and criteria for success.
- If they have supervision. Few coaches have any supervision but it is a vital ingredient in effective coaching.
- What models underpin their coaching approach.
- If they have a coach. It is surprising how many coaches do not have a coach. This doesn’t need to be permanent feature in coach’s professional life, but they should have access to occasional coaching. Not having a supervisor is a more serious matter.
- If they are the member of a professional coaching body.
4 Look for someone with whom you feel you can easily relate—there should be a connection between you that feels right to you.
From time to time free or very low cost coaching sessions are available with students in training at Wise Goose. Students are not yet qualified coaches but will have completed a minimum of 50 hours training (including coaching practice) and are in professional supervised.
If you’d prefer an experienced coach we are available for 1-1 or team coaching. Biographies can be found on our website. If you are interested in either of these options feel free to contact us.