I am currently researching the coaching industry and would like to know if you have got any top tips for choosing a coach?

Posted by Blake Henegan on March 20, 2013 at 4:35pm in Talent & Resourcing

What problems do you know of, that people have had when choosing one? Do you know of any bad experience stories when working with or selecting a coach?

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coaching, coaching and mentoring, recruiting a coach, choosing a coach, selecting a coach, selecting

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Replies

Maggie Withington March 22, 2013 at 5:18pm

Hi Blake.

A simple answer to your question would be; what do you want the Coach for? What are you wanting to acheive? Do you want to employee a coach? Do you want a team coach? Do you want a consultant? First, fully understand what your expectations are, then look for your coach. One of the biggest let downs in life is mis match of expectations. Try this website, http://www.associationforcoaching.com . Another thing to consider is that coaching and mentoring get mixed up, be really clear what you want.

I'm actually a Performance Development Coach, I've just joined the forum. I'm doing the Level 5 HRM.
- Blake Henegan > Maggie Withington March 25, 2013 at 1:19pm
  
  thanks Maggie and Kevin for the useful links. I'm looking for a coach for myself, my business and always looking to add new providers to our database so that we can provide our clients with the best coaches when we are asked. We are getting asked more often now as well. We will also be releasing a whitepaper on coaching very soon as well.
  
  In my experience i've found that there are plenty of people who call themselves coaches yet lack any formal training or qualifications nor are they registered with the professional organisations. These people can still be useful but when i've worked with them they've adopted a more direct approach.
  - Mike Collins > Blake Henegan March 29, 2013 at 11:28am
    
    Whilst you shouldn't base the decision solely on their online presence and use of social tools I would certainly:
    
    Look at LinkedIn to look at their past experience and any recommendations (less so endorsements).
    
    I'd take a look over on Twitter to see if they share things around coaching or things of interest.
    
    Have they got a blog, is it being updated, is it of interest. Does it show their expertise and experience in this field.
    
    What does their website say about them - are there testimonials available?
    
    Like I say decision should not be based solely on these things however they should an element of the recruitment / selection process in my opinion.
Kevin Faulkner March 21, 2013 at 5:02pm

Hi Blake, Before entering a process of procurement I would recommend that you clearly identify the  success criteria which the coach will be working to. Given there are so many forms of coaching around these days its important to find people who are right for your project. CIPD have a booklet around this subject which is freely available on the site.

To ensure too that you are choosing a credible coach a visit to the EMCC or Coaching at Work websites will give you names of coaches who are registered with professional organisations and are therfore credible options.

Given coaching continues to be an unregulated activivity, I know of too many organisations who have recruited coaches who are not up to the task.

Hope this helps

Kevin Faulkner