How to Pick a Life Coach

By dougnau on Jun 23, 2009 in Life Coaching

You are considering hiring a life coach for yourself or a family member and you are wondering how to choose the right one. Since its a relatively new industry and there’s a lack of a formal certification requirement, its no wonder you’re hesitant about making the right choice. This article will guide you through the process of asking the right questions of yourself and to your potential coach such that you make the most effective choice possible to accomplish your goals. Consider the following questions and explanations in your search for the right coach.

#1 – Why are you looking for a life coach?

Before you begin researching potential coaches, ask yourself ‘why’ you want to work with a coach. Is it for you, or is it for a family member that could use some support? If its for the latter, why would they want a coach (it seldom works if coaching is something a person has to do). Different coaches focus on different niches. Generally you’ll find coaches with background in business, spirituality, relationships, health and wellness, specific challenges (like coaching parents with autistic children), stress management, etc.

Keep in mind, a life coach is trained to support their clients in the creation of a safe environment from which a client draws out answers for themselves with respect to matters that pertain to their own life. This does not mean, however, that coaches can not provide mentoring, facts, statistics, and ideas which can support the client in making the best decisions moving forward.

So, if you are looking for someone to help you with issues related to balancing the hectic demands of life – then hiring a coach that works primarily with relationships may not be the best choice. Be wary of the coach that tells you that they can truly coach with respect to any topic in the world. Since coaches specifically coach people, their hesitations moving past personal roadblocks, and not necessarily the specific topic they are discussing (ie: how to get into medical school), often that is a message they may try to convey. At the same time, I’d be hesitant to work with a coach on financial goals if they themselves can’t pay the bills.

#2 – Does Accreditation Matter?

For someone that does not know the industry or know people that are coaches, most likely your initial answer would be – yes. And there is some value in having a set of ethical standards by which a coach has agreed to abide by. That being said, when you get to know people that are coaching you’ll find that a minority percent have actually applied for a specific certification in their coaching area of expertise. Most are personal growth enthusiasts and frequent courses on the topic without becoming certified. You’ll also find that there are numerous other credentials that most coaches have which might render a coaching certificate as less important. If this matters to you, consider the following;

Who is the accrediting body? The ICF is the most recognized coach certification program out there and other certificates don’t hold a lot of weight unless they are highly specialized and target a smaller niche (such as wellcoaches).
What does the accreditation require. Even the ICF itself has 3 levels of accreditation. An ACC, a PCC, or an MCC. An ACC requires 150 hours of practice, a PCC requires 750 hours of practice, and an MCC is 2000 hours. Its ‘relatively’ easy to get the 150 hours that many certification programs require, someone with 500 or more hours of practical coaching has a good deal of experience and often many years of practice under their belt. Bottom line, being accredited at the lowest levels means you have training, but not necessarily a lot of experience. There are hundreds of programs that offer their own accreditation, so being trained by a program that offers ICF accreditation is an important distinction. Just be wary that not all training programs/certifications are created equal – so being a certified ‘life coach’ doesn’t necessarily mean a lot without providing more information.
Are they accredited or certified in other fields. Your coach may be a registered dietician, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a pastor, a certified Microsoft web developer. These might outweigh the coaching credential depending on what you’d like to accomplish.

Bottom line, accreditation is not the end all – be all. It does however, ensure you that your coach has coach specific training. A thorough conversation with your coach about their background will likely be more meaningful than a listing of their credentials.

#3 – How does the communication feel?

Your best way to pick a coach is by having a discussion. Many offer a 30 minute complimentary coaching session. Feel free to take advantage of this, to let them know that you are serious about coaching, and that you are also interviewing other coaches. Even if you’ve got the best coach in the world on paper, it will be worthless if you don’t have a connection. You are enrolling a guide, an accountability partner, an expert in your preferred field of growth. If you find it difficult to communicate with your coach, or you don’t resonate with their style, you’ll be setting your experience for failure from the start. On your side, feel free to be choosy, but if you find yourself interviewing over 5 coaches, ask yourself if you are really ready to find a coach.

#4 – What format are you comfortable with?

Many coaches only work over the phone. Some work in person, or in a group format. Are you comfortable meeting on the phone, or do you do better meeting in an office. Consider your level of commitment if you are operating under the two scenario’s. What works best for you?

#5 – What can be accomplished as a result of coaching?

This is always a challenging question to pose, and the ease/realism with which your potential coach responds will give you insight as to what you can expect from a coaching relationship. Honest and heart felt responses are what you are looking for. Any coach that tells you that you are going to lose weight, going to start a successful business, or predict your results for you are in essence lying. If they inquire as to your dreams, what you’d like to accomplish, how you see your engagement in the process, and support you to discover the potential that you’ve got with the coaching arrangement, then they are responding with integrity. They may cite examples of results that others have had as well, and may tell you about the actions that person took to make them happen. Remember, you’re looking to know more about the coach and their personality by inquiring in such a manner.

#6 – Do you have a contract?

Signing a contract is a commitment. Its a commitment not only to your coach, but to yourself that you will stick to your goals. Inquire as to whether or not you will be required to sign a contract. Standard practice is yes. If not, explore for yourself the implications of not having a contract. Imagine that the coach might not be holding you accountable if showing up for your next meeting is not financially obligated. Imagine what it means to yourself if you can opt out of your goals any time the road gets rough. Remember – this is why you enrolled a coach in the first place, to support you in going past where you’ve been uncomfortable in the past. Money is a powerful motivator and when you’ve made a commitment, you can expect yourself to work harder towards your goals.

Be Well