How to Choose a Coach | Stanford Payne Coaching

Choosing a coach is a big decision. You want to find someone who is qualified, experienced, and a good fit for your personality and needs.

What are the three qualities of a coach?

There are many important qualities that a good coach should have. However, three of the most important qualities are:

Experience and qualifications: A good coach should have expertise in the area that they are coaching. For example, as a chartered accountant with entrepreneurial experience in luxury retail, tourism, hospitality and entertainment, I am a good fit for a business owner or entrepreneur in those sectors. They should also be accredited with a high-ranking coaching institution. I am a member of the International Coaching Federation, among others.
Communication skills: A good coach should be able to communicate effectively with their clients. They should be able to listen attentively, ask powerful questions, and provide clear and concise feedback.
Empathy: A good coach should be empathetic and understanding. They should be able to put themselves in their client’s shoes and see the world from their perspective.

In addition to these three qualities, a good coach should also be:

Trustworthy: A good coach should be someone that their clients can trust and confide in.
Supportive: A good coach should provide their clients with the support and encouragement they need to achieve their goals.
Accountable: A good coach should hold their clients accountable for their actions and their progress.

If you can find a coach who has all of these qualities, then you are fortunate. A good coach can help you to achieve your goals and improve your life in many ways.

Here are some tips on how to choose a coach:

Consider your needs. What do you want to achieve by working with a coach? Are you looking to improve your career, your relationships or your overall well-being? Once you know this, you can start to look for a coach who has the expertise to help you define and achieve your goals.
Do your research. Once you have a good idea of what you’re looking for, start researching different coaches. Ask your friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations. You can also search online for coaches in your area or in your field.
Interview potential coaches. Once you have a few potential coaches in mind, schedule a chemistry meet with them. This is a chance to learn more about their experience, qualifications, and coaching style. Ask them questions about how they work with clients, what their approach to coaching is, and what kind of results they help their clients achieve. They should be someone who you know will set you up for success and who you will be excited to spend an hour with every week.
Ask for referrals.

How do you know if a coach is right for you?

There are a few things you can do to determine if a coach is right for you:

Trust your gut. This is perhaps the most important factor. Ultimately, the best way to choose a coach is to trust your gut. Do you feel comfortable with the coach? Do you believe that they can help you achieve your goals? If you have a good feeling about a coach, then go with them. If you have a good feeling about a coach, then go with them.
Consider the coach’s experience. Look for a coach who has experience working with clients like you. For example, if you are looking for a career coach, look for a coach who has experience working with professionals in your field.
Consider the coach’s qualifications. Make sure that the coach has the necessary qualifications and training. For example, is the coach certified by a professional organisation such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Consider the coach’s coaching style. Every coach has a different coaching style. Some coaches are more directive, while others are more non-directive. Choose a coach whose coaching style is a good fit for you.
Consider your personality type. Some people work better with coaches who are direct and assertive, while others prefer coaches who are more gentle and supportive. Choose a coach whose personality type is a good fit for yours.
Consider your learning style. Some people learn best by listening, while others prefer to learn by doing. The best coaches will be flexible enough to adapt to you as an individual and don’t bring their own agenda to the coaching environment.
Consider the coach’s availability. Make sure that the coach is available to meet with you at times that work for you.
Consider the coach’s location. If you prefer to meet with your coach in person, then choose a coach who is located near you. Coaching online takes longer to build trust, but once that’s established it can reach incredible depths for the right person. With online coaching, you can choose a coach from anywhere in the world.
Consider the ROI of coaching. Coaching can be expensive, so it is important to set a budget before you start your search. Get quotes from multiple coaches before making a decision.

Here are some questions you can ask potential coaches:

What is your coaching experience?
What are your qualifications?
What is your coaching style?
What kind of results do you help your clients achieve?
How much does coaching cost?
What is your commitment policy?
What are your confidentiality policies?
Do you have references? Talk to other people who have worked with the coach. What was their experience like? Did they achieve their goals?
Do you have references? Talk to other people who have worked with the coach. What was their experience like? Did they achieve their goals?

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do I feel comfortable with this person?
Do I believe that this person can help me achieve my goals?
Do I feel like I can trust this person?
Do I respect this person’s knowledge and experience?
Do I enjoy talking to this person?

If you can answer yes to most of these questions, then the coach is likely a good fit for you.

Getting the most out of coaching

Once you have chosen a coach, be sure to set clear expectations for the coaching relationship. Discuss your needs with your coach, work together to define your goals, and to strategise how you can achieve them. Be prepared to work hard and be honest with your coach. Coaching can be a very rewarding experience, but it is important to put in the effort.

Here are some additional tips for getting the most out of coaching:

Be open and honest with your coach.
Be willing to challenge yourself.
Be committed to doing the work.
Be patient and persistent.

Coaching can be a powerful tool for personal and professional development. Choosing a coach can be a daunting task, but it is important to take the time to find the right person for you. A good coach can help you to achieve your goals and improve your life in many ways. By following the tips above, you can increase your chances of finding the right coach for you.

Choose a coach who you can trust. You will share a great deal with them and, ideally, they should help you plan where you want to be in your professional career in three or four years time, to the date, guide you in defining the goals you need to achieve and facilitate a winning strategy to achieve them.

It’s a special relationship where you have someone who is just there to listen, to ask questions that prompt you to consider something new, and who is 100% on your side; someone who is in no way competing with you, and who only wants your success.