Finding the right coach - 10 tips
Coaches are now a dime a dozen. Accordingly, it is often difficult for individuals and organizations to decide on a supporter when the need arises.
Klaus Doll from Neustadt an der Weinstrasse (Germany) works as a change consultant and coach for companies. In the following, he reveals some tips on how to find the right partner for coaching.
- First ask yourself: What kind of questions am I looking for an answer to? Personal? Family-related? Professional? Entrepreneurial? Or even questions of meaning? Furthermore: Why can't I find an answer? And why can't I decide? From this you can deduce what knowledge, experience "your coach" should have.
- Coach is not a protected profession. Anyone can call themselves one. Therefore, have the coaches you are considering provide you with a resume that shows what training the person has undergone and what life/professional experience they have had.
- Get several quotes and compare them.
- Ask the coach for references. If he gives you references without the express permission of his clients, be careful. Then he will probably not keep to the promised discretion with you either.
- Good coaches help you to decide. They also accompany you in implementing the decision. That's why good coaches specialize - for example, in advising on personal, professional or business issues (even if these often cannot be neatly separated when coaching). Nevertheless, the following applies: A coach who claims to be fit for all problem situations is not a good coach.
- Ask for a preliminary meeting in which the coach explains his or her approach to you. Reputable coaches work transparently and can explain their working methods to you.
- Ask the coach where he or she sees the differences between therapy and coaching or consulting/training and coaching. Professional coaches have a clear point of view on this.
- Trust your gut. If you have the feeling during the preliminary interview that "the chemistry is not right" or "the coach cannot help me", you should look for another one.
- Make a written agreement with your coach about how often, how long and at what intervals you will meet. Also clarify with him or her the extent to which he or she will also be available to you as a contact person between sessions.
- Also agree with him by when your "problem" should be solved, because coaching is always time-limited.
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