Choosing The Perfect Coach

So you're ready to start training. Or you have some issues that you think a coach can help you overcome, or you just think it's time to improve the quality of life. He has reviewed his budget and reserved some money to cover the fees and has proven that he is reasonably free from serious mental or emotional issues that can disrupt the process. But now comes the big question: "How can I find a suitable coach for me?"

A niche or not a niche?

To start, you need to know what type of coach you want to work with. Do you want a generalist or someone who specializes in your problem or lifestyle? Some professionals hang on the tiles of a "life coach" and place everything presented to them within their own standards and personal skills. Others specialize so strongly that one wonders how they can find a market large enough to stay in business (and still do!). A generalist can be excellent if you are not sure what your biggest problem is or if you want the freedom to move from one life course to another in a wide variety of fields and disciplines, while a specialist is perfect for one who want to focus on a very specific segment of your life or activities. And for every possible niche, problem, situation or person, there are at least a handful of coaches: parent coaches, menopausal coaches, family coaches, business coaches, family business coaches, custodial coaches, and single parent coaches who are Owners of their own business and who want to be better parents and business people (do you understand what I mean by a narrow market divide?). If you live it, execute, do it or get over it, there is a coach working with people like you.

Quack or Jack?

One thing to know before going out to find a coach is that at the time of writing this article (9/04), there is no consistent or required certification process for coaches in the United States (or in many others countries that I know). However, this does not mean that the industry is full of fakes and nonsense. As in many professions, the lack of credentials does not necessarily indicate a lack of skills and abilities, nor does a wall full of titles guarantee it.

Currently, the International Coaches Federation and the International Coaches Association are the two most important certification boards in the United States. But since the certification of the coach itself is so new, there are very few coaches so far. This means there are thousands of perfectly competent and even gifted buses out there with no "papers" to speak. So how can one distinguish a good coach from a bad one? The only real way to know is to do your homework. Request referrals from previous customers. Check if the coach in question is a registered member of any of the ethical regulatory boards, such as the IAC or ICF. If your coach gets results, he does not cross any ethical line (he diagnoses mental illnesses, offers guarantees of improvement, crosses personal / professional boundaries, etc.) and adapts well to his personality and way of being, he is probably in good hands .

Be Vewwy Vewwy Quiet - I chase coaches

Now that you've narrowed down your choices, it's time to look for some educators that meet your availability, price, and personality requirements. Of course, word of mouth is always the best way to find any professional service provider as they are pre-selected and previously approved by people you trust. If you don't know someone who can recommend family coaching, one of the easiest ways to find it is through a coach referral system. Make sure the requirements of the referral point for submitting shipments meet your personal bus guidelines; Some places require little more than a shipping fee. Some of the most popular and reputable coaches reference sites are Coachville, the International Coaches Association, the International Coaches Federation and the European Coaches Institute.

Check the profile of the prospective coach and his website if they have one. Do they inspire a sense of competence and professionalism? Read any article or other material they have written to get an idea of ​​what type of person they are and whether their views and perspectives are right for you.

See if they offer a free introductory call most people make and create a call with their best options.