Top 5 Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Coach
Posted on March 23, 2014 by Matthew Maynard Marriage Family Therapist, One of Thousands of Relationship Coaches on Noomii.
Want to choose the best possible coach to guide you to a better you? Make sure you avoid these common pitfalls most people new to coaching don't know.
When people are looking for a coach to better their life, they seldom know specifically how to make an educated decision on choosing a great coach. In order to help people looking for the best coach, I have compiled the top 5 mistakes clients are totally unaware of when choosing.
1.) They assume a coach’s title is legitimate and knowledgable.
Just about anyone and everyone on the internet these day’s seems to be labeling themselves as a “coach”, with little or no educational or reputable background in what they coach. A coach’s personal life experiences are great, but rarely have the depth and knowledge to take their clients to the level they want and need. When choosing a coach make sure to find out exactly what the abbreviations mean after their names. Also, see if they have any higher education in what they are coaching. Most coaches currently only have certifications from programs that can only take a year or less in some cases. If they are an accredited coach, look up the accreditation requirements of the program the coach has come from.2.) They don’t choose a coach who specialize in the niche area they are struggling in.
Most coaches state that they are general life coaches and that they are capable of handling a wide range of issues. These coaches are also the ones who have little background or reputable knowledge to backup their services. Choose a coach based on their expertise in the area you are looking for fulfillment in. These coaches typically have a special interest in the area that they niche in, and in turn, have significant knowledge and understanding of the strategies they work with clients on developing themselves further. Be weary of coaches who claim to help people in many different area’s that are not truly connected. (I.E. Career coach/family coach) This is a big warning sign they have little training and knowledge in what they state they are coaching.
3.) They choose a coach that doesn’t take into consideration the other people the client is connected to.
We are all social beings. Most coaches will only work with the client on their own individual perspective, beliefs, and feelings, which could have devastating results with the clients spouse, family members, and/or co-workers that they care deeply about. How sustainable do you think the changes a coach could help you make, if they upset or caused problems with your loved ones? A great coach knows that the results their clients seek need to be sustainable, realistic, and increase harmony in all area’s of a clients life; not just one area. When interviewing with a coach during a free consultation, ask them how they specifically strategize with clients on creating lasting change. If their response does not include anything about how the change will impact others or sustainability in your daily life, that should be a warning sign.
4.) They choose a coach that isn’t enthusiastic or energetic about what they coach.
If your coach isn’t lively, engaging, and energetic, how excited and motivated do you think you are going to feel to change any area of your life? Great coaches recognize that they need to assist the client in changing their state from bored, sad, and frustrated, to empowered, motivated, and enthusiastic. Coaches that are only lively and engaged some of the time model inconsistency, which is the last characteristic a client needs when trying to change any area of their life. Coaches that are passionate about what they do comes through in their language and their overall representation of themselves when you meet with them for a free consultation.5.) They choose a coach who struggles with balancing empathy and action in their sessions.
If a coach doesn’t empathize or understand a clients feelings about the life situations they are coming to them with problems, they fail to build credibility and trust with their clients. This lack of empathy will breed a disconnect from the client, resulting in lack of forward movement in the clients action. If a coach on the other hand only empathizes, but does not hold the client accountable to identify steps forward, they are also doing a major disservice to the client’s goals. A great coach will be able to empathize with a client situation and use this empathy to build trust and rapport with the client to then build momentum and action to coach the client closer towards their goals. There is a delicate balance between these two area’s of the coaching relationship, and can dramatically influence the outcomes of the results clients are seeking.
If you’re interested in learning more about my qualifications as a coach and find more articles by me go to www.relationshipsarenotfromspace.com
