At LDI we are fortunate. As well as being highly experienced in management training, we have some very talented and successful coaches. This article gives you some tips to use when you are selecting a coach.
Using a coach to help you to make your life better is not something that you should be ashamed of. For some reason, business people tend to see asking for help as a sign of weakness. This is crazy – no sports person would ever take that approach!
Before approaching anyone, make a list of the things that you want to achieve from the coaching. Are you looking for executive coaching, coaching to deal with a specific issue, or what has become known as “life-coaching”?
Three Types of Coach
Having made that decision, beware that the coaching world is highly ambiguous. There are at least three different type of coach:
Some coaches will bombard you with their qualifications yet they have little if an experience that is relevant to you.
The next group is made up of those who have coaching qualifications from a sporting background and are using those skills in the business arena. Before dismissing these, bear in mind that the GROW model came out of just such a consultancy. And because sporting bodies insist on a rigorous syllabus, these coaches are usually highly trained.
The third group may have limited if any in the way of formal qualifications yet have a lot of experience to impart.
Although the latter may be tempting to use, the problem is that without education in coaching processes, they may end up advising you to do as they did, without exploring all available options.
Ideally, you should ask for testimonials – however, this can be problematic as many coaching clients wish to remain anonymous. Another approach is to interview the coach quite rigorously and ask for examples of how they would approach specific situations.
Once you have found your preferred coach, constantly monitor progress. Some progress should be evident from the start. If you find after a couple that you are making no progress, then you must take the initiative to make things go your way and to be more successful in life.
Record Progress
Keep a journal. Make a list of the good things that happen for you and what you are gaining from them. Take the time to write down anything that is not working for you so that you can make the necessary changes.
If you are not making progress in an area that is a major one for you, discuss it with your coach sooner rather than later. It is important that you do not stick with a coaching strategy if it is not working for you. There are so many different techniques that can be used. Above all, be quick to end a relationship with any coach who suggests that there is only one way to deal with a particular situation. There is always more than one way!
Caution
One word of warning – do not expect your coach to make the changes for you. Far too many clients just sit back and expect change to happen. The coach’s role is to act as a facilitator, a resource for you to use to make the changes you want. There is nothing in life that you cannot achieve if you work hard at it and do whatever is necessary to be in control of things but you have to do it. If you are serious about making changes and being more successful with every possible part of your life then you need to apply yourself and be ready for any challenge that comes your way.