How to find the perfect coach

Patti Dobrowolski
Sep 6, 2018 · 3 min read

We all need a little coaching sometimes. Whether it is for your health and physical body, or it’s for your business or personal life. Coaches can be found everywhere. Literally 100s of coaching promotional posts fly past our eyes on social media every day. I’ve used coaches and been a coach off and on throughout my career. Their advice has often lit a fire under me, and helped me adjust my viewpoint, or my process.

How do you know when you could benefit from a coach? You might just feel stuck. Or you find yourself talking to your partner or friends about the same issues over and over again. Maybe you had a recent performance review that highlighted your professional weaknesses. All signs of an opportunity for coaching.

How do you find the coach that’s right for you? Every coach is different. Here are a few things to consider when looking for a coach.

Identify what you need help with.

Clarity will help you get better results. Look at your life as a whole. Where are you feeling challenged? Health? Spirituality? Leadership skills? Personal development? Work-life balance?

Write out specifically the areas in which you’d appreciate some help.

Get a referral for a coach that works in that area.

I have found that the best places to find a great coach are through my professional network. You might ask a colleague, or somebody you met at a networking event. You could also try asking friends, or neighbors. Choose to ask someone that you trust and respect. These people often are linked to greatness.

Interview your potential coaches and read reviews of their work.

Most coaches will have an overview of their services on their website and often comments from clients. Look their content over and see if you resonate with it. Prepare some questions and see how their answers feel to you. What is their questioning style? Do they hog all the air time on the call? How did you feel after the call was over?

Pick a coach and commit to a program for at least 6 weeks.

Coaching is a two-way relationship. Your coach is going to expect you to deliver on your agreements and you’ll get the most out of the relationship when you take their advice and try it. Do it. Apply it. Review your relationship and your goals at the end of a month. If you are not shifting where you want to, revise your plan with your coach. You’re paying for this, so make that money count!

Keep a coach only as long as you need them.

The goal of getting a coach is instill new habits and accelerate change in your life. My experience shows that clients sometimes become reliant on their coaches. The purpose of coaching is not to learn to lean on your coach, but to use their advice to build a strong foundation for yourself. Let them go when you find you are asking them to supply answers to questions that you should be answering yourself.

It’s Fall, and Fall is a great time to let go of the past and step into a new you. If you need help, ask for it! Most creative geniuses need an ally in their camp to help them grow and serve at the highest level. Get the help that suits you, so you can bring your best Creative Genius You to the world.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade