10 things you need to know to hire a coach

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Laura Di Tomasso, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.

You want to hire a coach, what do you need to know? A couple of important notes:
• Coaching is not a regulated profession. The exception may be a sports coach. This blog is not about sports coaches.
• Coaching is generically defined. “… coaching is a process that aims to improve performance and focuses on the ‘here and now’ rather than on the distant past or future."
Warning most article are good general guide on differences between coach, mentor and consular. They do not address the differences in coaches!
This is my point of view, not an official definition. My own experience from responding to request for coaching, is the basis of this information. I promise to keep any bias out. My belief is clients will come to me if we are a good fit. I do not fear losing a potential client by writing this blog.
My wish is for you to be more informed, ask better questions and choose what is right for you. By no means am I disparaging any type of coach. Personally I know of very skilled and effective coaches of all types. Here is how I see the groupings of coaches:
1. Skilled based coaches, who are directive in nature. They use techniques of being a mentor, an advisor, a consultant, and a teacher. They may also use transformative coaching techniques. Their goals are to help you to achieve your goals using their expertise in the area of your goals.
2. Transformative coaches, who believe the client has the right answer to achieve their goals. They use thought-provoking and unique processes to maximize personal and professional potential. The coach is a guide, a change agent, even a mirror for the client, to see what they cannot see in themselves. They are experts in using coaching techniques.
3. The consultant coach, who is the fixer. This is often the coach people seek to fix their resume, LinkedIn profile or practice interviews. They are the expert in the client’s problem and help to fix/solve the problem using best practices.
Total transparency, I am a transformative coach. I am trained by an accredited school to be a coach and credentialed by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). I have been tested, assessed and achieved a level of competency to graduate as well as to be credentialed. This does not make me the better coach. It does make me a better choice for people who are willing to look at themselves rather than their circumstance/situation. I am not the person you want to hire to review your resume. I am the person to help you understand what makes you different from others, which may ultimately change what you put in your resume. Do you see the difference?
Other coaches may or may not have any training in coaching. Again, some incredible coaches have had no coach training. I will repeat, there are great coaches of all types. I encourage you to find the right fit. This means asking the right question of yourself and then of the potential coach you interview. Yes, interview! I strongly suggest you interview a coach to determine if they are not only the right type, they are also someone you want to work with on a personal basis.
Here are questions you must ask yourself:
1. What is the ultimate outcome I want from working with a coach?
2. What type of learning style works best for me? Do you like information /answer more than self-discovery?
3. What is my time-line to achieve the outcome?
4. What is the investment I am willing to make in myself?
5. What do I want to walk-away with when I am through coaching?

Here are some of the questions you may wish to ask a potential coach:
1. What is the ideal client for you?
2. Describe how you coach typically?
3. Do you use pre-defined programs, customize how you work with me or a combination?
4. Have you received training or do you have credentials? Explain what that means to me?
5. How much of an investment, both time and money, will our work require?

The answers to these questions will bring you some clarity. You may find that you have other questions as you receive the answers. There is no correct answer, only the way the answers resonate with you. Coaching is personal, you are investing in a partnership. Take the time to understand who you are partnering with to ensure you find the right fit and achieve your goals.
I would be honored to support you on your journey to gain awareness of your choices. Remember when you rise, you raise those around you to be a better version of themselves. Please contact me using the information on my profile page.