Just like not all doctors are created equal, nor are coaches. Check out this list of points to be aware of before placing your trust into the hands of a stranger.

1. Certification

Certification used to be important, but not so much anymore. There are certificates available with minimal training instruction for as little as $7 online. Being certified doesn’t mean that their training adequately prepares the individual to be a coach.

Certification should be considered as the bare minimum and not in itself proof of competence. Look beyond the certificate. Check for experience, references, or other evidence that they are skilled and knowledgeable at what they do. Most importantly, check to be sure that they are specifically skilled in the area in which you require assistance.

2. Build rapport

Believe it or not, many coaches lack the emotional maturity to handle their own life’s challenges, let alone yours. Just like people, it’s not easy to find out how emotionally mature your coach or therapist is based only on their qualifications. Check if they offer a free connect session that lets you see if you can build a healthy rapport with them.

Remember, this is about you, not them.

3. Are they empathetic or sympathetic?

Empathetic means that they can understand where you’re at, and they have a genuine appreciation for what you’re going through. Sympathetic means that they have an emotional investment because of their personal experience with a similar challenge. As strange as it sounds, you DON’T want a sympathetic coach.

Coaches who operate with sympathy are more likely to take your side rather than maintain objectivity. Objectivity and sound understanding of the contributing factors is what is needed to overcome the challenges that you face.

Important! We cannot coach someone who is not in the room. So, if your coach is focusing on someone else’s behaviour and not dealing with yours, be very concerned. They’re stroking your ego, not helping you to recover.

4. What makes a good coach?

According to Coach the Life Coach, the following 8 points are key attributes of a good coach, and I agree:

  • They’re a great listener
  • They have an excellent ability to build rapport with their clients
  • They understand that they need to engage differently for different types of clients and are capable of doing so
  • They formulate questions artfully and skillfully aimed at guiding their client towards self-realisation
  • They are comfortable with awkward silences or time needed for their client to process what is being discussed.
  • They have broad experience and real life wisdom and don’t rely on textbook knowledge
  • They are visibly passionate about helping people

Your coach must also be comfortable with pushing the tough discussion and guiding you through it. Many coaches want to be favoured more than they want to be true to the client’s needs. For this reason, they avoid getting too contentious because they’re afraid of losing the client.

Your coach must want to help you more than they want to secure your business.

5. Affordability

A good coach could cost anything between ZAR500 to ZAR2500 per hour (US$30 to US$250). Or more. But it all depends on their client base, and their niche.

The only thing a rate should tell you is whether or not the coach is affordable for you. Everything else about them must be assessed independent of their rate.

6. What about NLP, CBT, and all of that?

NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), or even Hypnotherapy are simply methods or modalities that are used to create understanding or provide coping mechanisms. Like all methods, they have their place, but they also have their limitations.

Be careful of coaches who swear by one or the other. They are more likely to take a textbook approach to responding to your questions or challenges. A sure sign to raise concern is if your coach constantly tries prescribed exercises in every session.

The human condition is made difficult or easy depending on how well we understand what we’re experiencing. It’s not about rewiring your brain, or developing habits or coping mechanisms. Those will fail you when your circumstances change because they lose effectiveness when life changes.

Roundup

An informed client adds to the integrity of the industry, and they keep coaches honest.

Coaches are human. We make mistakes, and we have bad days.

The more informed you are as a client, the more you can keep us honest on those bad days. More importantly, the more informed you are, the higher the probability of finding a coach who is effective for you.

Remember, this is an investment in taking your life to the next level. Don’t compromise on that by looking for a coach that is going to make you feel comfortable with where you’re at.

Let’s build the life that you’ve always dreamed of.

My coaching approach is as unique as every client that I work with. We’re humans, not business processes that need to be solved. What worked for someone else won’t necessarily work for you. That’s why following a text book approach is never sustainable.
Here’s a selection of frequently asked questions that may give you the answers you need before you make contact. Or, if you’d rather just have this discussion with me, find my contact info on the homepage and let’s get started.