How to Find a Coach You Connect With and Reach Your Goals.
Find Your Coach
How do you find a coach that is a good fit with your personality, values and goals? Here are four actions to support you in your search and a mindset tip to help you get the most from your journey.
In a previous article, Are You Ready for Coaching?, we discussed nine mindset, personal traits or practical areas that support a client in a great coaching engagement. Let’s say you have read and checked off the areas discussed in that article. You have something you want to work on with a coach, a budget, can realistically give the time and attention to your focus and coaching sessions, and are motivated to do so. You are prepared to be vulnerable, open and honest with your coach. You are ready to be accountable. So what now? How do you find a coach that is a good fit with your personality, values and goals?
Firstly, a powerful mindset is to be able to see much of what we embark on as an experiment. Finding the right coach for you right now may take some experimentation. You may take a few wrong turns and that can be disappointing. However, there are four actions that can help you in your search and minimise your risk of investing heavily in the ‘wrong’ direction.
(1) Consume a Coach’s Free Content
You will get some idea of what it might be like to work with a coach through the content they produce. This could include blog posts, podcasts, e-books, or video content. The main pages of a coach’s website or their social media posts offer a taste of what the coach does, how they do it and who they are. Whilst a coach may not demonstrate coaching in their free content (although some coaches do), this doesn’t mean you can’t learn about their values, manner or style of coaching. What is their energy like? Do they have coach-specific training? What sort of clients have they worked with before?
(2) Take Advantage of a Free Session
Many coaches offer a free or lower cost introductory session, sometimes called a discovery session. Take advantage of this offer to get a feel for the coach’s manner and coaching style. Ask any questions you want answered before you commence with a longer term commitment. Even 15 minutes with your potential coach can help you decide if they will be a good fit for your personality and needs. Never feel pressure to ‘sign up’ with a coach who has offered a free coaching session or consultation. You are in control and a reputable coach will never push you to work with them.
(3) Try Out a Coach’s Lower-Priced Offers
If a coach that you are considering working with is not advertising or promoting any lower cost or one-off offers, email them with your enquiry. Set a budget, for instance $100 or $200, and ask them what they can offer. They may have a workshop or single group coaching session option that will allow you to work closely with them without any expectation of a long term commitment or large financial investment. Some coaches have published books, short courses or trainings that they make available at a relatively low cost. Check their website, social media or ask them. Remember a coach also wants the coaching relationship to be a great fit. Most coaches will offer at least some no or low-cost content or options to work with them, so that you are able to make an informed choice about working together on a more long term basis and on a deeper level.
(4) Ask a Friend
Many people find their coach through a referral from someone they trust. Does a colleague, business partner or friend have a coach they are working well with? Has someone you trust had a successful coaching partnership in the past? Ask your friend what they most liked about working with the coach and what was most helpful. Ask your friend what made working with this coach better than simply talking with a friend, manager or partner. If they are open to it, ask your friend what type of focus or goals they worked on and how they were supported by the coach to move forward. Your friend’s objectives and personality may be different from yours, so gather whatever information you can and consider it in line with your unique needs.
Bonus Tip
It is also worth noting that you may work well with different coaches in different contexts. For example, Coach ‘A’ may be ideal for you when you are focusing on a personal relationship. On the other hand, you may benefit more from working with Coach ‘B’ when your goal is connected to marketing your business.
If you are already working successfully with a coach and believe a different coach would provide more effective support in a new or different area, ask your coach for a referral. Coaches know other coaches and have usually worked with a number themselves. Your current coach is a great resource as they know you and your process.
Remember that a great coach recognises that you are the expert in your life and work. A coach is an expert in coaching. A coach partners with you to bring out your best and to access your wisdom so you can achieve your goals, make decisions and take action that aligns with your values and vision, not theirs. A great coach is someone who listens for your agenda and helps you to listen to yourself - to ensure you are working on what really matters.
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