“Coaching should be both a joy and a challenge. But first and foremost, it is about trust.” Carol Kauffman

The challenges of choosing the right professional

Finding a coach is easy. But finding one that is a good fit for you is more challenging.

But before we get to the coach, we need to look at the earlier aspect. Most people won’t consider engaging in a coaching process because: they are not sure they need coaching.

Why?

  1. It is often unclear what the process is about and how it can help.
  2. You might believe it is only for corporate executives.
  3. You may be unsure of what you want to work on.
  4. There are many professionals and different approaches – the overwhelm of options leads to no decision.
  5. When you finally decide to go for it, you ask yourself “Where do I even start?”

 

Start here: targeted steps to ease your decision-making

 

I.Steps to check your readiness and get clarity on your coaching needs

  1. List 5-7 specific goals you want to work on in the upcoming 6 months – 1 year. Assess the dominant area – are they related to your personal or professional life? Can you narrow down the topic even more?
  2. If you are not sure on any specific goals – reflect on what would you like to be different in your life in 6 months / 1 year (how would you like to feel and what visible changes you want to see)? Be as specific as possible.
  3. Why have you not achieved those goals so far? If you are already working on them – where do you need support?
  4. How do you want to be supported by a coach? Outline 3 expectations. (“I want a coach to provide support with….. ” )

 

II.Steps to sketch a profile of your coach 

1. Think of a professional (or personal) relationship that helped you grow in the past 1-3 years. What was the relationship like, how did you perceive the person and yourself in relation to them?

Would you resonate with someone similar or different? In what ways?

 

2. Ask for recommendations in your network AND check the following:

  • their professional profiles and presence – does that resonate with you and what you need right now?
  • are they engaged in continuous self-improvement? – the deeper they walked towards themselves, the better they are to guide you towards yourself
  • results they had with other clients
  • their experience and/or expertise – coaches do not have to be domain-experts, because the coaching process is non-directive and therefore it is not focused on knowledge-sharing, in some cases, however, you may prefer someone who has a basic understanding of your field
  • their qualification(s)

 

 3. Schedule a Discovery call with someone you think might be suitable.

Most coaches will offer an introductory conversation, where you can both assess if you are a good fit – without any contractual obligation.

Be present and assess whether they create an environment of trust where you are being listened to and it feels safe, to be honest, and vulnerable. It is also important to receive support and discuss an initial strategy that will help you make progress towards your goals.

 

Conclusion

The coach-client fit can be decisive for the effectiveness of the process (both in terms of personality and expertise). Therefore, invest time in doing your research, ask for recommendations, and also listen to your intuition.

Remember, there is no perfect fit from day 1, no professional will tick all your boxes and like every other relationship, this one needs time to be built too.