Have you ever worked with a life or career coach? Someone who helps you feel empowered where you were stuck, provides insights where you were foggy, offers support and understanding where you felt alone, and shows you how to take action on a clear plan even when you didn’t know where to start?
Well, I have! As a coach, I value the coach/client relationship and have worked with life and business coaches at various times in my journey. Some coaches were a good fit; some weren’t. So, I’ve had experiences as both a client and a coach, and here are five characteristics that can let you know if a coach is a good fit:
1) A Coach Who Visualizes Your Amazing Future
Do you want to work with someone who sees you at your full potential? Hells yeah! Wouldn’t it be cool to work with a coach who furthers your vision and helps you make a plan to get there – knowing it can happen for you? “Yes!” is my quick answer. It’s invigorating and motivating to work with a coach who “gets it” and is excited to watch your amazing future unfold.
2) A Coach Who Gets That It’s All About You
Each coaching session should be about you – your agenda, your needs, and your goals. Coaches who push for details that aren’t necessary, push you to take action on something that’s not on your radar, or interrupt you to change the subject are fueling their own agenda. Instead, coaches should create a space for you to be your authentic self and allow you to lead the agenda. Great coaches will encourage you, guide you, enlighten you, suggest to you, hold you accountable, and maybe even create some discomfort. But it’s still all about you, not them and their ego or interests.
3) A Coach Who is a Driver of Change
Why are you working with a coach, after all, except to create real change in your life? What do you really want for yourself? What’s keeping you from achieving that? What’s your best plan of action to achieve your goals? Great coaches partner with you to get from A to B. They’re action oriented, hold you accountable to your commitments, and investigate the issues if progress isn’t being made.
4) A Coach Who Empowers You
This should be a given, but it’s not (as I’ve had experiences to the contrary). You should leave your coaching session with clarity and a feeling of empowerment – not feeling defeated or beat up. Eye opening, a-ha moments can be life changing when presented in an empowering way.
5) A Coach Who Has Been There, Done That
Coaches don’t have to have the exact same background as you in order to be a great fit, but “been there, done that” experiences are very helpful so they can provide their expertise. Do you want someone with corporate experience? Someone who has started his or her own business? Someone who has taken some risks and achieved a big goal? If coaches have the experience, they have specific examples, resources and tools to guide your growth and actions. This makes a real difference.
Tied to this is coaching experience and certifications. There are good coaches who’ve never taken a coaching course, and there are coaches who have their certification and don’t fit the coaching descriptions I’ve provided. So, certifications don’t necessarily equal a great coach. Having said that, I lean toward picking coaches who have received a certification (ideally one that’s accredited by the International Coaching Federation). I believe in the benefits of the training – based on how much I gained from it – for the coach and the client.
What’s important to you in a successful coach partnership? List one quality that comes to mind. I’m anxious to hear your feedback!
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