5 Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Coach

1. Coaching works when the client is ready for change.

You are ready for coaching if you want to make changes, have goals or objectives in mind to work towards, and are committed to working actively and consistently in the coaching relationship.

2. The client’s responsibility is to set the agenda and take action.

The client is the one that sets the agenda in coaching, and identifies the topics, issues or challenges that they want to focus on. The client is also accountable for taking action and responsibility for their own decisions that they reach as part of the coaching engagement.

3. The coach’s responsibility is to listen and help the client achieve their goals.

The coach listens actively to understand the client, asks questions of the client, gives feedback, and challenges the client’s assumptions or thinking. The coach helps the client by engaging in a dialogue to identify different options and choices that the client considers pursuing in order to reach their goals or objectives.

The coach also works with the client to develop a plan or strategy to get from where the client is to where the client wants to be.

4. The best candidates for coaching are thoughtful and engaged people.

People succeed in coaching when they are interested in and committed to discussion about the professional situations they are facing, regardless of what job they have or what stage of their career they are in. They take the time to fully participate in the coaching sessions, share what is on their mind, and consider new ways of thinking or approaching issues.

5. Getting to know a potential coach through an initial consultation is critical.

You want to understand the coach’s approach, how they work, and what the coaching relationship with them will look like so you can see if you and the coach are a good match.  It’s important that you and the coach are clear about your objectives, and develop a plan for coaching that is targeted to those objectives.