How To Find A Great Coach
- suziread
- Aug 29, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 2, 2023
5 simple steps to finding your perfect match.
The Coaching Climate In 2023
Looking for a coach can feel like an overwhelming task. You have taken the decision to invest a considerable amount of your time and your (or your company’s) money in your development so you, of course, want to get it right.
The market may feel like it's saturated at the moment with coaches. In fact, according to research by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) the number of active coaches has increased and is expected to continue increasing, but equally so is demand for coaching! Despite this increase in numbers, coaches are still reporting to be just as busy.
Over nine in 10 coach practitioners (91%) said they currently have active clients, giving an estimated 99,100 active coach practitioners, representing a 55% increase compared with the position in 2019.
International Coaching Federation Global Coaching Study 2023
Why is coaching increasing in popularity? I explore why coaching is such a valuable tool in today's world in my next blog, click the 'Get sum' button above to join the mailing list and get in the loop - but for now, let's get to it!
Five Simple Steps To Finding The Perfect Coach For You
Like any relationship, to be successful, the coach/client relationship must be built on trust. There have been some shocking stories in the press recently about people falling victim to some manipulative and exploitative schemes but rest assured, there are some fantastic coaches out there and lots of them! It's a great time to find a coach, it's just about knowing what to look for to ensure that your coach is both:
Competent and ethical in what they do;
A great match for you and your current needs.
The following steps will ensure that you can forge a trusting relationship and feel psychologically safe within your coaching sessions so you can delve deep and fully focus on what is important.
CREDENTIALS
So...you may not be an expert on coaching - how can you be sure that a coach's qualifications are credible?
Well thankfully there are organisations that have already done it for you!
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) are two of the most recognised bodies for coach accreditation globally and in Europe. It's a choice for a coach whether to get themselves accredited but it is becoming more of an expectation from clients. According to latest research by the ICF, 85% of coaches said they currently hold a certification/credential from a coaching organisation. To achieve this validation, coaches not only need to have credible qualifications but they need to have completed a specific number of hours of coaching (dependant on the accreditation level), demonstrate ethical practice, have regular supervision and undertake continuous professional development to ensure they remain competent. So, if your coach is accredited, this really does provide an extra level of safety for you as their client.
EXPERIENCE
So..let's say you are a Chief Marketing Officer, does that mean you want someone with marketing experience so they can fully understand your challenges?
Over my 18 years of matching coaches to clients this is probably THE most common misconception. If you are looking for someone to give advice or compare notes on how to do your job, this is mentoring not coaching.
When we talk about experience in this context it's about their experience both inside AND outside of coaching. It's good to learn more about the coach's own journey, the challenges they have overcome, the types of clients they have worked with and their specialist areas.
ACTION #2: A great coach will want to spend their time listening to you! So you might need to ask them about their own journey and reflect on the following: Have they done the work on themselves? Do they ignite your motivation? Do they inspire you? Do elements of their journey relate to the current challenges that you are facing? |
VALUES
So...they are clearly a competent coach, is that enough?
Even excellent coaches cant possibly be the right fit for everyone!
Asking a coach about their values and principles will tell you so much about their style of coaching and the ethics and standards that they hold themselves to. A great coach will know that 'doing the work themselves' is an integral part of being able to support their clients on their journey. If a coach isn't able to articulate their principles and values clearly, then how can they support you in being authentic to yours? Having a sense of shared values can help build trust and to create the psychological safety that is necessary in a successful coaching relationship. Keep an open mind, as you may have a clear idea of what you want but actually learning about the coach's approach and how it works may give you more insight into what you actually need right now.
ACTION #3: Have a look on their website to see if their values/principles are there. If not then ask your coach about them. Reflect on: Do you relate to them? Is there anything missing? Is their approach what you need right now to get the best out of your sessions? |
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Aren't all coaching contracts the same?
To be honest, they pretty much are, they should set out the clearly the coach's obligation to maintaining confidentiality, data protection and agreed costs clearly but there are a few of other key things I would recommend you look out for...
Programme Term: It is common for a coaching programme term to last for 6 months, with one session per month, although this can absolutely vary depending on the circumstances. Beware of longer terms if they don't align the desired progress and timeline for your goals. Great coaching is designed to build autonomy for you as the coachee and give you an impetus to make progress on your goals within a given period of time. There are a few coaching organisations cropping up at the moment who look to tie clients in for much longer by default. A lot can change for you in few months so it's good to give yourself the option to review the relationship, your needs and your goals. You can always decide to add some more sessions later if momentum is still high. Which brings us nicely to the next thing to check..
Ending or pausing the programme: An ethical coach will always put progress before profit. The ICF and EMCC codes of ethics suggest there should be a clause in the contract stating that either you or the coach can end the coaching relationship or pause it at any time with a specified amount of notice. Circumstances change, momentum can slow down and sometimes it's just not the right time. So if it's not working for any reason, either you or the coach can discuss and agree to end the coaching, usually confirming this in writing. Beware of contracts that tie you in as you don't want to waste your time and find yourself 'going through the motions' just because you have committed to paying for it.
Cancellation policy: This relates to cancellation of an individual booked session. We know sometimes, projects and business meetings take over or you may be taken ill and need to move a session. Check the coach's cancellation terms to ensure you are aware and happy with them from the start. Most coaches will try to accommodate changes here and there as they can but will reserve the right to charge you for last minute or frequent cancellations.
ACTION #4: Check the terms and conditions to ensure you are happy with them and reach out to your potential coach who would be happy to clarify anything you are unclear about to avoid any issues down the road. |
CHEMISTRY
You wouldn't hire someone based purely on their CV right? Hiring a coach is no different...
Once you've found someone who ticks all the boxes on paper it's time to see how it works in reality. Most coaches will offer 'chemistry sessions' free of charge with absolutely no obligation to work with them. As a great coach knows, chemistry in a coaching relationship is everything! What happens in a chemistry session? The coach may ask you questions to establish things like: your understanding of coaching; your goals and aspirations; your preferences; what motivates you and why your goals are important to you. The coach will also want to give you some insights into what to expect from working with them and what tools they may use to support your coaching journey. It's also a chance for you to ask your coach any questions you may have. There may be more clarity you are seeking on some of the above steps. It's also a great chance to sense check their values and principles and whether you can see them demonstrated in the way you expected as they engage with you. It's a good idea to have chemistry sessions with more than one coach as this will help you to see different styles in action and be sure what approach feels right for you. What if it doesn't feel right? Can I avoid the awkward 'its not you - it's me' break up conversation? It's perfectly OK following a chemistry session to tell a coach that you don't want to work with them, as a coach it is part of our job. They may ask you for feedback but ultimately you will both know when it feels right.
ACTION #5: Have chemistry sessions with more than one coach. Reflect on: Did you feel comfortable opening up? Did they demonstrate their values and principles in how they engaged with you? Do you feel motivated/excited/inspired? Did they seem excited to work with you? Does it just feel 'right'? |
To Sum It Up!
If you work within an organisation your L&D/Talent Development/People team should also be able to support you in ensuring that your coach is credible and competent.
Either way, following these simple steps will ensure that you get to know your potential coaches on a deeper level and will help you to decide if a coach is competent, ethical and ultimately a great fit for you.
Once you have done your research, trust your gut! If it feels right...enjoy your coaching journey, be prepared to put the work in and welcome the wonderful new possibilities the relationship brings...
Click the 'Get sum' button at the top of the page for more info or to arrange a no obligation chat to see if Sum would be a good fit for your coaching journey.
References & Links:
ICF Global Coaching Study 2023 https://coachingfederation.org/app/uploads/2023/04/2023ICFGlobalCoachingStudy_ExecutiveSummary.pdf
Verify A Coach ICF UK
Verify a Coach ICF
Verify A Coach EMCC
IFC Code of Ethics
EMCC Global Code of Ethics
留言