How to chose the right coach

2 min read

So you’re thinking about Executive Coaching and you’re ready to do the work but you don’t quite know where to start.

Begin with clarity on the kind of the coaching you’d like. If you’re working at a senior level and you want support with career matters like working at your peak, planning a job move, striving toward a promotion, enhancing your leadership or management skills, or resolving a particular question then an Executive Coach is probably right for you. If you want help with finding your wider purpose or developing yourself more broadly a Life Coach might be a better option for you. In your initial discussions a potential coach should explore your needs and refer you on if they’re not best placed to help you. At Arise we specialise in executive, leadership and team coaching.

Once you’ve settled on the type of coaching, focus on finding the right coach for you. Ask your friends and colleagues, search online or look at a professional coaching body like the Association for Coaching or the International Coaching Federation for inspiration on candidates You wouldn’t hire someone to work for you without understanding their skills and experience, having an interview or checking their references…coaching shouldn’t be any different.

Consider a coach’s speciality and their experience. Do you want to work with a coach who has knowledge of your industry, is from a particular background, or is someone of a certain gender? Would you like your coach to have a direct understanding of your experiences and environment? A professional coach should offer an initial meeting to get to know you and for you both to explore your fit to work together before a contract is agreed.

You’ll be working closely together so you should like your prospective coach. When you spoke or met did you connect? Are their values aligned to yours? Do they show interest in what you say? Do they listen? Are they curious to get to know you and understand your situation? If you don’t gel then consider looking for a coach who you feel good about.

When you’ve done the legwork and made a decision to proceed with a coach, take the time to have an open and honest discussion about what you want to achieve. You should also talk about how you want to work, and the time you can dedicate to the coaching journey. Your new coach should also be clear about their ethics and explicitly speak to confidentiality. And once you’re in a coaching relationship, don’t be afraid to offer feedback: your coach will want you to share if something isn’t working or you need something different. Coaching is a dialogue and the best results will come if you’re working openly together.

Good luck on your coaching journey - may it be rewarding and transformative. If you’d like to talk to me about what Arise offers do get in touch.