If you’re like most people, when it comes to hiring a coach/consultant, you’ve probably done some research, but then you’re still left wondering: how do I know who’s right for me?
First, there are a lot of different kinds of coaches out there. There are career coaches, life coaches, financial coaches… the list goes on and on. It can be really hard to figure out what kind of coach you need especially if you don’t have full clarity yourself, and even harder to find one that is the right fit for you.
And then there’s the issue of confirming whether the person you choose makes sense for the kind of work you need to be done, or let’s say, the business you want to start. Some people just want to get advice on their leadership/career path; others want help with business strategy; still, others just want someone to listen to their problems and give them feedback on how they can improve themselves. So how do you choose??
There are a number of factors that should be considered when choosing an advisor or consultant, but one of the most important things to consider is their ability to solve problems.
You don’t have time to wait around and figure out if your coach can truly help you, you need to know for sure they can.
Visit their websites, read their testimonials, examine their results, and learn about how they became credible in their field. Scam advisors will focus on teaching you something they have not done before themselves, so ask the question: “what was your journey like on the path to [whatever it is they are trying to help you with]. They should also be able to give examples of past work on your subject area so you know what kind of results they’ve gotten from working with similar clients before!
Once you’ve found someone who seems capable of solving your problems (and who has all the right credentials), then it’s time to establish the criteria of rapport. 80% of coaching success is based on the rapport and connection you have with your coach. You should be able to feel as though this person understands you, is honest with you and wants to see you succeed. If you feel like a transaction or a number, perhaps that may not be the best fit for you…or maybe it is. You get to decide.
You also want someone who is clear and concise in their messaging about what you can expect, what you can receive and a reasonable timeframe on when you can achieve it so that you can understand exactly what they need from you. If the coach has a website, sign-up for the Newsletter! You can find out what they’re up to, who their clients are and how successful they’ve been at helping people solve their problems. If the coach is doing a good job at marketing themselves, then chances are they’ll do an even better job of helping you grow your business!
Buy their books, if the coach is selling books about what he/she can offer, read them so you can have a good grasp of what they offer. You can also get a feel for how they write, and if it’s something that would resonate with you or not. It’s important that you’re comfortable with who you’re learning from and be sure they have what you need to grow your business. Watch their videos and listen to their podcasts! You can learn so much by listening to people who are already successful in what they do.
And lastly, get a clarity call. This is a call where you and your potential coach talk about what you’re looking for in coaching, what your goals are, and whether or not they can help you. A good coach should be able to tell you what they can, and cannot do! If they say they can help you with everything, run. Run like Forrest Gump! The final thing I want to say about choosing the right coach is that it’s an investment. You have to be willing to invest in yourself, your career, or your business if you want it to grow. You have to show up and do the work. The coach will guide you, and give you advice, and a step-by-step plan, but they will not and cannot do the work for you. This expectation will set you up to fail. But if you go in with a clear understanding of what is expected, this will not only help you grow as a person, but also help those around you see how much value you bring into their lives.
Write back. Have you been scammed or had a bad experience before? What happened?
Would you like to learn more about Clear Communication Solutions? Visit the media page, or if you’d like to book a consult for private coaching, contact me today.