Should you have a coach? You are looking for answers, but the canvas before you is blank.

It would help to know if working with a coach would help you get to where you want to go with more speed and less angst . . . with more skill and less guesswork. You have never hired a coach before. Why not? Could having a coach make a difference?

Do you have a family doctor? A dentist? A favourite automotive repair shop? An alterations expert? A florist? You may even want a family jeweller equipped to appraise your valuables.

We build our personal community of relationships with individuals whom we count on to be dependably available and consistently reliable. These are people we have taken the time to get to know. Their track record of performance with us tells us we can trust them.

And if you are adding a coach to your list of human resources, here is a set of questions that you might want to ask when interviewing a coach to work with you:

1. What are your qualifications as a coach? While qualifications matter to some, track records may be more relevant. What you seek is a match that connects the coach’s expertise with the skills you need.
2. How long have you been coaching? Just as you may not want to be someone’s first date, you may not want to be someone’s first client. If you are looking for a client with a history of success, ask the question.
3. Who is your preferred client? This question will help you determine if you are a fit for this coach. It does not mean that what you are looking for is on the list of good fits, but it will give a picture related to professional alignment.
4. Tell me your favourite success story. Watch to see if the candidate’s face lights up or if they shuffle in apparent discomfort. Listen to the content. Is there a sense of excitement or a feeling of accomplishment present? Do you feel drawn into the story?
5. Describe the coaching system you use and why it works. You want to find out if you will be sent to watch a suite of videos complete with workbook pages to fill out or, secondly, if you will be taken through a guided step-by-step system over several months or, thirdly, if you will begin from where you are coming from in an attempt to solve the problems you want to solve now without the months of study.
6. How much time should I invest when working with you as my coach? You want to find out more about your length of commitment. Are you prepared to spend three months in weekly sessions or a year in monthly sessions? It would help if you did an analysis of your calendar scheduling practices to determine if you have, for instance, every Tuesday morning at 8 am to have a meeting with your coach. Are evenings better for you? What about weekends?
7. Is there someone with whom I could speak about their coaching experience with you? Speaking with a previous client might be more reassuring than reading the recommendations and testimonials on the internet.

You oversee your growth as an entrepreneur, a solopreneur, a leader, a member of the C-Suite, a manager, or an employee. When it comes to your personal and professional development, the choice is yours. You get to choose how, where and when you map your own journey and follow it through to its destination.

The important thing to remember with coaches is that one size does not fit all, and while some coaches will be able to tick a lot of boxes for you, no one knows everything. Choose a coach from an area where you want to focus. Ask the pointed questions. You should be coached in the realm of finance or grant writing in the first quarter of the year and then move to improve your elevator pitch and your self-promotion skills in the next quarter.

In this changing world, is it time to take your leadership . . . your work life . . .  your business enterprise . . . in a new direction? While the world may be changing rapidly and uncontrollably, consulting a coach, even periodically, may keep your enthusiasm for what you do alive and well.

Is it time to hire a coach?

Do you have a coach? | Why have a coach? | Would a coach make a difference as you grow your business?

If you have a coach

• Is your coach someone you are developing a relationship with?
• Or is your coach more like your confidant. . .someone who is a professional listener. . .someone who is strong at asking those pointed questions that have you calling upon your experience with your blinders off and thinking?
• Is your coach good at helping you build confidence in your role?
• Is your coach someone you depend on for training in a particular skillset or mindset?

Coaching has significantly expanded over the past several decades to the point that it is now a multi-billion industry worldwide. From corporations to individuals, coaching has become a respected approach to facilitating change. No matter what you want help with, I can say with reasonable certainty that you should be able to find a coach to work with you.

Does Coaching Make a Difference?

Be you an individual, a solopreneur or an organization, coaching may mean the difference between success and failure. Coaching may make the difference between growth and stagnation.

What results might you expect? According to studies done on the impact of coaching in the business environment, three things are likely to improve: engagement, productivity, and results. Check out the article written by John Brubaker. He reports you are more likely to have strong business results when you work with a coach.

Who should have a coach?

Everyone should have a coach. That’s what Eric Schmidt said. Eric was the CEO at Google at the time. Eric thought so highly of his coach that he participated in writing a book about him.

What made Eric’s experience with his coach so positive? I can only guess but I believe that these four characteristics, as cited in an article by Stacey Alcorn, must have had a significant impact on his attitude and success. To her, good coaches are people with whom you build a relationship. Everything flows from there. She adds the following elements:

• In the first place, your coach should be interesting. If you are not looking forward to the time you spend together, something is terribly wrong. Are you enjoying the time you are spending with your coach?
• Secondly, do the ROI evaluation. What are you getting out of your coaching sessions? Are you fulfilling your purpose? That is, are you working toward accomplishing the objectives that you targeted for achievement?
• Thirdly, does your relationship with your coach go beyond coaching? Are you both experiencing other professional benefits such as referrals or introductions?
• And lastly, Alcorn asks if your coach is more than your coach. My clients tend to become lifelong friends. Do you regard your coach as your friend?

Should you DIY or Hire a Coach? 

Do you tend to be a DIYer? Are you the kind of person who likes to figure things out for yourself? Or are you the kind of person who seeks answers from reading books and articles? If you tend to be a DIYer who plays with your ideas by talking about them, would it be helpful to entertain your ideas out loud in a conversation with someone you know, like and trust? You can still be a DIYer with a coach. Your coach may be the mirror or the sounding board that keeps you from getting distracted.

As a leader in an organization of one or of many, no matter how many things you are being challenged to deal with at any given time . . . no matter how many areas you are focusing on, . . . a coach can be the bright light in your life to raise your spirits, challenge you to improve and increase engagement.

Your coach can be your cheerleader, your challenger and your champion. Your coach can challenge you to go beyond your pre-conceived limitations. Coaches can simultaneously be your accountability partner, your change agent, your strategy consultant and your professional listener. It’s the job of your coach to push and prod and poke and praise and help you achieve the outcomes you seek.

By Donna Dahl

Donna Dahl, M. Ed., is more than an empowerment coach. She is a leading executive strategist and catalyst for change, working with leaders, teams, employees and entrepreneurs.

Through her neuroscience-based approach, she is well-poised to disseminate skill development, empowerment and engagement. Her award-winning track record speaks for itself. She is the author of Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, a five-star rated book designed to gently challenge the reader to consider change. She welcomes opportunities to discuss your challenges. https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnadahl/