Life Coach: How to Find the Right One

The life-coaching market has exploded in recent years as the need for good, efficient coaching has increased and so has the number of people who offer coaching services. If you decide that coaching is for you, finding the right life coach is essential, and with the enormous number of coaches available, it’s not always an easy task.

Choosing the right coach can be difficult because there isn’t a set of standard criteria that apply to all people at all times. Your needs are likely to be different from anyone else’s, and while all coaches offer somewhat similar services, the way they deliver those services should be tailored to each individual’s needs.

Invest Your Time

One of the keys to choosing the right coach is to invest a little time to develop a good set of personal criteria to help you “vet” prospective coaches. A three-stage approach usually works well, in that it enables you to sift through a number of coaches quickly and efficiently to ensure that you have found the right one.

Stage 1: The first stage is to develop a list of what you expect from the coaching experience. Once you know what you want to achieve and how you would like to achieve it, it’s time to search the Internet for life coaches. Their Web page will focus on the services they offer, and give you insight into the values and philosophies they adhere to. Compare each coach’s services and philosophies with your list and see if they are similar.

Remember: Coaching is a two-way street and if you don’t share the same values and broad goals as your coach, your success with this particular coach will be limited.

Gather As Much Information As Possible

Stage 2: After browsing the websites, the next stage is to order brochures and information from the coaches you “short listed.” Give yourself time to thoroughly review the information you receive to allow you to have a clear picture of the differences between each coach on your short list, and then cut your list in half.

Stage 3: Once you have your final list of prospective coaches, it’s a good idea to have some “face time” with them to see if the “chemistry” between you works and if they have the ability to connect with you in the right way. Many coaches offer free “taster” sessions, or have seminars and lectures to showcase what they can offer you as a coach.

While searching for a life coach may seem very time consuming, it’s essential to invest time right at the start to find the right coach for you and to maximize the lasting benefits of coaching.