Client: How should I decide what sort of coach is best for me?
Coach: Coaching is about a relationship between the coach and the subject of the coaching. So you should choose someone whom you respect and whom you think you will be able to work with.
Look for a coach with a good track record in the type of situation you find yourself in. Don’t be fooled by the amount of training or qualifications the coach possesses. Of course some training is good. But coaching is an art as much as a skill.
Client: How can I tell before I hire a coach whether they are the right coach for me?
Coach: There is no formula that can possibly help you. However, a good, experienced coach will offer you a free trial session so that you can judge how well you get on with each other.
Use this session to see how much you learn in the session and most particularly to check how you feel at the end of the session. Not every session will end in you feeling over the moon because sometimes you have to face up to your own inner demons and that can be a bit unnerving. However, a good coach will leave you feeling much better about yourself at the end of your trial session and at the end of the vast majority of your real sessions.
Client: Is it a good idea to choose a coach provided by a training company or will I be better off with an independent coach?
Coach: This is a really interesting question.
Until about five to seven years ago most coaches were independent. Then more…
“To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.”
Chinese Proverb
