"The secret to getting ahead is getting started."........Mark Twain

Are you looking for a Coach, and have no idea where to start? Well, you're in good company; most people find themselves confused and find that it leads to procrastination. Here's a few tips to get you going.

5 Tips to pick a great Coach:
 
1. Look at the Coach's website and profile: this is the place to start; a Coach that is established will have a good profile and well-developed website. Many questions you might have will be answered there. Don’t miss this great opportunity of discovery about not only the Coach, but coaching, what to expect, and cost.
 
2. Be wary of the cookie cutter or one size fits all approach:  By this I mean Coaches that tell you they have a 10 week (or 8 week etc.) program that is guaranteed to get you results. This cookie cutter type of approach tends to allow little room for listening and for tailoring to the specific needs of the Client, and rarely get the results a Client is looking for. Change takes time and some level of commitment to happen. Look for a Coach that hears your goals and has time in their schedule to help you get to them.
 
3. Take advantage of the free consult/test drive most Coaches offer: This is your time to get to know the Coach a bit so you can know if you are both a good match. Speaking to the Coach is going to give you a lot of information as to who they are and how easily they communicate with you. Come to the consult prepared with questions or a topic you want coaching on; 20-30 minutes goes by fast!
 
4. Ask where the Coach has studied coaching: There are some great coaching schools out there. Ask where the Coach has trained, and what the model is that they have been trained in to know if their approach resonates with you. If the answer is that they have no training, you probably want to look elsewhere. Life experience counts big time, but a good Coach knows the importance of training. Don’t waste your time and money on an untrained Coach – I’ve had many Clients come to me after having done this, and regretted they didn’t hire a trained Coach right away.
 
5. Know what you need in a Coach: List the 5 most important aspects in a Coach that you feel will help you connect more readily with your goals. Do they need to be straight-forward, or do you prefer someone that has a soft approach? What kind of support works for you, etc?
 
*Bonus Tips* –

Educate yourself. Most people begin looking for a Coach before they've really done any research on what coaching is, how it will benefit them, and what the costs will be. Do yourself a favor and do a little research first. Find out what a good Coach costs, what coaching really is and what realm of coaching you need, and ask yourself what you believe will be the benefit it will bring you before you begin. 

Ask the Coach how long they’ve been practicing and what other experiences they bring to the table. While you may come to the Coach originally for Health Coaching for instance, there is a high probability that you will find yourself working on other goals and obstacles that come up along the way; finding a Coach that is well-rounded with lots to offer increases your likelihood of success in your goals.

Most of all, be ready to do the work. You can hire the best Coach in the world, but if you’re not ready to make discoveries and work on obstacles as they appear (and they will appear), then you’re wasting your time and money. Be ready for an exciting time of transformation in your life. Embrace what’s ahead and you’ll discover great things about yourself!!! Happy Coaching!!