How to Choose a Coach
Selecting the right coach is critical to helping you have a successful coaching experience. Choose someone you can trust, who has the right skills and business/industry experience to help you achieve your desired results. Here's a simple 4-step process to guide you.
- Educate yourself about executive coaching. Search "executive coaching" on-line and/or get recommendations from others who have used a coach. Visit www.coachfederation.org.
- Consider your goals. What specifically do you want to accomplish through coaching, e.g., what capabilities do you want to build or acquire, what results do you want to achieve?
- Talk to at least three coaches about what you want to accomplish. Ask each coach about:
- background, relevant experience, qualifications, and skills
- type of clients, issues, or industries the coach typically works with
- the coach's philosophy, practical approach, timeframe, and how he or she measures progress and results
- how the coach can customize the approach to meet your needs
- examples of successes relevant to your situation; examples of coaching engagements that didn't go well, and why
- Based on competence, chemistry, and trust make your choice. Then get started!