Picking the right coach for you

It might feel a bit intimidating selecting a coach, but getting the right fit is crucial to getting the most out of the experience.

The single most useful thing you can do is have a discovery call before you sign up. This is typically a 30 to 45 minute call where you can find out who they are, how they work and if you are both a good fit for each other.

Remember, you don’t have to work with the first coach you find or talk to. Just because you’ve spoken to them, you are not obligated to sign up.

When you’re on the discovery call, here are some of the things to look for:

Equality – You and your coach are equals in the relationship and in the sessions. There shouldn’t be any sense of imbalance when it comes to power, experience, knowledge etc. The coach should ask for and accommodate any requests you have, as long as they are comfortable with them too.

Chemistry– There should be a level of rapport between you so you engage well together and can work off each other. There should be common understanding and approach that enables you to experiment together, venture in new directions and build new thinking.

Ease– When together, you should be able to relax and concentrate on your thinking. There shouldn’t be anything about your coach that makes you feel distracted or uneasy.

Trust– You should feel able to open up to the coach and share things you might not have told anyone else before, even yourself. You also need to trust that the conversation is confidential and the coach will honour any agreements you’ve made together.

Clear roles & responsibilities – The coach should outline what their coaching approach is and what each of you are responsible for in and outside of the sessions. They should be clear on what they can do and what they can’t. You should understand what is required of you in order to make progress.

Transparency– There should be full transparency around their experience, ways of working and any T&Cs they have in relation to sessions, payment etc. They should answer any questions you have with ease and care.

Integrity– You should feel that the coach has your best interests at heart and will act with ethics and honesty.

Your gut – If you’re feeling excited, motivated or perhaps just a little lighter after the call, that’s a good sign. If you didn’t enjoy the conversation, have more questions than you did before or something doesn’t feel quite right, then perhaps they’re not the coach for you.