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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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?
- 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?