The coaching industry is booming as more people have had time to self-reflect during the pandemic and gained an understanding of what coaches do. More and more people want to find a coach online as there’s a coach for just about anything that you need help achieving. Need to be more accountable? Then find yourself an accountability coach. Feeling low spiritually? A spirituality coach can help you feel more connected. Not to mention executive, leadership, and life coaches that can help you through your professional and personal journeys.
With the growth of coaching, that means more people are also becoming coaches, training coaches, and offering a plethora of services to coaches and coachees. IBISWorld values business coaching in the US at $11.6B, and that’s just business coaching! The coaching industry is becoming the wild west due to its lack of regulation, low barriers of entry, and rapid growth. Finding the right coach – whether an online coach or in person – can seem quite dauting; especially when a Google search for “leadership coach near me” returns more than 450M results.
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Begin with yourself to find a coach
You’re reading this because you are considering coaching. But do you know what you want to get out of coaching? The support of a coach is only as good as your ability to describe what you’re looking to achieve. I like to ask my potential clients two questions:
- What three things can you change about your situation that will have the biggest impact?
- What can you achieve if those changes were reality?
That achievement is likely your main goal and can guide you towards determining the right type of coach. These questions help you visualize your goal, articulate it, and set the foundation for initial conversations with potential coaches.
Do you need a coach or mentor?
Due to lack of regulation, there are many coaches without certifications positioning themselves as coaches. Often, they are more like mentors or even advisors rather than coaches. This isn’t to say that they aren’t good at what they do; however, trained coaches recognize growth comes from self-inquiry and self-actualization. If you think of a child who needs to learn how to tie his/her shoe, it’s easy and faster for the parent to tie them or even let the child wear shoes with Velcro. But we all know the outcome of that – the child is delayed in learning how to tie his/her shoe and then requires the teacher to tie them in school. Contrarily, coaches help you learn to tie your own shoe, even though it takes longer because it for your best interest.
If you need more hands-on support, perhaps search for a “coach” who can also mentor or advise you. Sometimes more instructions are required. A business coach for entrepreneurs is often more like an advisor/mentor rather than a coach as she/he will provide more direction on business strategy. A leadership coach for entrepreneurs will be less hands-on by focusing on self-discovery to identify strengths and opportunities.
Searching for your coach
There are many ways to search for personal coaching. The best way is through your network. A coach referred by a trusted source reduces the stranger factor and can serve as a reference.
As mentioned above, the coaching industry is not regulated and can result in investing time and money in services that are unhelpful. Searching for certified coaches through the three major coaching certifying bodies – ICF, EMCC, CCE – can ensure you have a trained coach. Coaches from these organizations have completed dozens (often hundreds) of hours of live training along with mentoring with senior level coaches.
LinkedIn is a great source for finding coaches or other service providers. There are two ways to search – the traditional search bar on LinkedIn or LinkedIn Service Provider page. LinkedIn is also a great channel because you can view potential coaches’ work history, recommendations, and written articles to get a better feel for them.
Many coaching platforms and organizations match coachees with vetted coaches. The sites below have a rigorous selection process for hired coaches:
- AceUp
- Adviice
- bCoached
- BetterUp
- Building Champions
- CoachHub
- Life Coach Spotter
- Mettacool
- Noomii
- Pilea
Freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr are also good options; especially if you are cash strapped. Given that anyone can sign-up on these platforms, vet the potential coach and use the considerations below during your initial chemistry session.
Things to consider when vetting potential coaches
- Experience – Consider coaches that have experience supporting clients with similar needs or have similar working experience. They’ll be more attuned to your situation and better equipped to ask powerful questions that lead to increased self-awareness and action.
- Credentials – Albeit not essential, but it ensures the coach is trained and knowledgeable. It decreases the chance of wasting your time and resources in coaching. Also, certified coaches take an oath to abide by ethical standards and to not coach beyond their expertise. Essentially, they will not therapize you, but will refer you to a more specialized practitioner.
- Availability – Hire a coach whose availability aligns with your schedule. Ask them about their schedule and whether they are dedicated to coaching full-time. Discuss how many hours in advance can you book sessions and the best way to communicate between sessions. Busier coaches often have less time for frequent check-ins between sessions. Know what you need from a coach, and do not hesitate to ask during the initial meeting. Confirm what tools or forms of communication the coach uses that supports accountability if you want your coach to hold you accountable between sessions. Ensuring that your prospective coach’s availability and communication frequency aligns with your needs upfront will save you a headache later.
- Compatibility – Most coaches offer a free discovery or chemistry session. Consider this as a “first date”. You will discuss what you seek to achieve through coaching, determine if the coach can support you through your journey, and discover if you’re comfortable with each other. The latter cannot be underestimated as coaching is very introspective with multiple vulnerable, sometimes uncomfortable, conversations. Being comfortable with your coach sets the foundation for building trust and an open dialogue.
What to expect
Now that coaching is more accessible through online coaching and budget friendly freelancer platforms, you can find the right coach for your situation. Finding the right coach is like switching from a 40W bulb to a 100W bulb. You have the power readily available but have not tapped into its potential.
What is coaching? – A Practical explanation
Coaching is defined as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential by the International Coaching Foundation. You can expect meaningful conversations that help you see your problems, challenges, and opportunities in a new light. Coaching is designed to support you in achieving your goal while equipping you with tools to thrive without a coach; as such, a coaching engagement lasts 3 – 6 months with each session ending with micro action items to move you forward towards the goal.
The idea of coaching may seem obscure, but the results speak for themselves. Top businesspeople such as Elon Musk and Oprah have coaches, Jim Kwik and Martha Beck respectively. Coaches can coach your through multiple life stages, defining moments, or personal/professional challenges. Find the right coach and expect to experience change.
