9 TIPS TO CHOOSE A GREAT LIFE COACH
Finding the right life coach is super important. If you get this wrong, it’s likely to put you off ever working with coaches, which is a shame, as the right coach can really help you gain clarity, help you navigate your current situation and help you achieve your goals.
All of these tips are applicable to any type of coach and all good coaches will challenge your mindset to help you develop.
Here are some examples:
Life coach: helps you create desired goals and then helps you achieve goals in all areas of your life and helps restore balance so you lead the life that you want.
Career coach: will help you identify the right job role for you that matches your skills and personality. They may also help you plan career progression, or even how to leave your job, or how to leave your company and set up your own business.
Productivity coach: will help you identify habits, tools and strategies for you to be more productive. They may even explore what is blocking you from being productive.
Transformation coach: if you’re looking to make a significant change in your life such as weight loss/weight gain, moving country, gender reassignment, taking a sabbatical, or leaving a relationship, a transformation coach could help you work through big questions and big decisions.
Relationship coach: helps with all things associated with a relationship such as meeting a soulmate, ending a relationship amicably, issues within the relationship, sex problems, and money issues.
Financial coach: will help you achieve your financial goals by helping you create an action plan. A really good financial coach will help you understand your life goals and how much they will cost over time. Financial coaches generally offer education as most are not qualified Independent Financial Advisors (IFA).
Fitness coach: will help you achieve your fitness goals. If you do not like going to the gym, make sure your fitness coach creates a programme that includes activities that you enjoy and looks at your diet too. In today’s busy society, most of our health and fitness challenges are due to a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
Health coach: Is more likely to explore your diet and lifestyle, and add appropriate activities.
Executive coach: works with senior managers and leaders in companies to help them become better leaders, achieve company goals, manage stress, and help with difficult decisions and difficult conversations, including change management.
TIP #01. SPEAK TO SEVERAL COACHES TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT
This sounds obvious, but most people don’t. Most coaches offer a consultation call and it’s useful to know what your focus is, and what you hope to gain from your sessions.
It’s worth pointing out that the best coaches do not need to have experienced what you are going through. They need to be able to listen, ask good questions and help you navigate through your situation so you get your desired result.
If it doesn’t feel right, move on. Coaching can be quite an intimate experience as you share parts of your life with your coach.
Is the coaching within your budget?
Is the coach putting sales pressure on you? If so, then move on.
A massive red flag is “I’m the only person that can help you”. This of course is not true, especially with most coaches working online, the world is literally your oyster.
From an energetic perspective, this also suggests the coach is in scarcity mode and needs a sale.
Always use discernment. If it does not feel right, walk away.
TIP #02. KNOW WHY YOU WANT TO WORK WITH YOUR COACH AND KNOW WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU
This will be easier when you speak with several coaches and it will be easier to compare apples with apples.
For example:
Do you need more balance in your life? Is work taking over? Do you dedicate your entire life to the children and pets and have no time for yourself?
Do you want to improve your physical health? If so, a fitness coach could help, or someone who has made that journey and learnt the lessons.
Do you want to improve your diet to improve your health and longevity? Then speak to a Nutritional or Health coach
Do you want to create a roadmap for your career, including future Non-Executive Director roles? If so, a career coach is worth considering.
Do you want to make a career change? Either change industry, set up your own business, or move from Corporate to start-up? If so, a career transition coach could be very beneficial, or even someone who has made that journey and learnt the lessons.
Do you want to meet your romantic soulmate? If so, a dating coach, or someone who has made that journey and learnt the lessons.
Do you want to end your relationship, but do it in a kind way?
Do you want to create more financial abundance in your life? Then explore a wealth or financial coach.
TIP #03. IS THERE ANY PREVIOUS CLIENT FEEDBACK AKA TESTIMONIALS?
Testimonials are a great way of seeing if your coach can deliver results for their clients. And do the testimonials resonate with what you are looking for?
For example:
If all the testimonials talk about how they got out of debt, but you want to create wealth, this might not be the right coach
If all the testimonials relate to finding your ideal man, yet you are looking to meet your ideal woman, this might not be the right coach.
Or at least do they show a variety of results demonstrating that your coach can work with a variety of clients?
TIP #04. DO YOU WANT YOUR SESSIONS IN-PERSON OR ONLINE?
Both styles have pros and cons. The greatest advantage of online coaching is that you can pick the best coach for you from anywhere in the world. Maybe you are looking for a coach that speaks your mother tongue or one that is more culturally aligned with you.
TIP #05. HOW LONG ARE THE SESSIONS AND HOW OFTEN WILL YOU MEET?
How long will you be working with your coach? Does the time frame feel right for you? Some coaches could offer 3x sessions, others could offer a 12-month programme, and there’s everything else in-between.
How long is each session? Typically, a coaching session will be 60 minutes, but some could be 90 minutes or even two hours. What feels right for you?
TIP #06. HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR COACH?
Have you seen them at a speaking event? Did you get to ask any questions? Or were you sent to speak with a member of the team? How did this make you feel? How approachable are they?
Do they have a web presence? Is their website all about them or the customers that they have served to show transformations?
Do they have any videos to watch or blogs to read? This can help gauge if you resonate with them before speaking with them.
TIP #07. DO YOU WANT GROUP COACHING OR 1-TO-1 COACHING?
1-to-1 coaching
Ask about the coaching style. Is the programme tailored to you or will the coach be following a programme?
1-to-1 coaching can be more expensive, especially if it’s tailored to you.
Group Coaching
Group coaching can be more affordable and definitely very beneficial if the group meets in person. This is a great way to widen your network and make new like-minded friends.
You can also learn lots by hearing other people’s stories and the lessons they have learnt.
If you’re a bit shy and find the idea of meeting a coach online or in-person on a regular basis a bit overwhelming, then maybe group coaching could be a nice option. It’s worth asking if you could have a taster session before you buy.
There are coaches that never speak with their clients directly - are you comfortable with this?
TIP #08. MAKE YOUR CHOICE FROM YOUR HEART
Close your eyes. Quieten your mind. Ask who is your coach. Trust your intuition. The price of the coach is likely to play a factor, but don’t let this be your main reason.
TIP #09. GO FOR IT! THE BENEFITS ARE POWERFUL!
Remember if you like being coached, the likelihood is that you will have several coaches over your lifetime to help you succeed in various areas of your life. And remember the benefits of coaching are both tangible and intangible, making coaching very powerful!
Benefits include:
Helping you achieve specific goals
Helping you gain clarity where you feel stuck
Helping you build your confidence
Helping you see if a different point of view
Helping you achieve balance in your life
Good luck and enjoy your coaching journey!