How To Find A Coach

The Access HR Team | 1 Jun 2007 12:37 AM

In contrast to mentoring, a coach does not need to have direct experience of your job, and most likely comes from outside of the organization.  A coach helps people to improve their individual effectiveness so that they can accomplish specific goals.

The Four Steps to Find A Coach:

  1. Where Do I Start?

Work out what it is you want to achieve and the specific development areas you want to focus on.  The coach must be able to understand your business and personal objectives, and you need to feel at ease with their style.

  1. Get Recommendations

Ask for referrals, if a friend or colleague has achieved great results through coaching, ask who their coach was.  This way you are not starting out cold.

  1. Make A Choice

Once you have a list of potential coaches, interview them.  Find out more about them.  It is important you ask them to describe their coaching style, and what they feel their unique qualities are and where they believe they could provide the most value.  Ask for references, testimonials, case studies and client success stories, and of course you need to know what their fees are and what terms you need to sign up on. 

Before making a final decision, weigh up the chemistry or ‘fit’.  Determine how you feel during a conversation with them, and after.  If you are feeling excited and perhaps a bit nervous at the prospect of the potential they could help you realize – you have found the right coach.

  1. Develop the Relationship

Set aside time for coaching.  Squeezing them into a busy schedule will not give you maximum benefit from the process.  Honesty and Trust are the trademarks of making a relationship work, be upfront on how you feel, what you think and what your abilities are. Commit to experimenting with the new ways of thinking, behaving and operating.