Choosing The Right Coach
Coaching has become a very popular way for people to get the ongoing support they need to accomplish their goals. However, choosing a coach can be tricky. There are so many METHODS, models, and approaches. Coaches come from every background possible -- from counseling to consulting to corporate America. And each individual has a PERSONALITY, communication style, and temperament that is going to match well with some people and clash with others. So how do you choose someone who is right for you?
DIFFERENT APPROACHES
You first need to make sure that the person's PHILOSOPHY is appropriate for what you want to accomplish. There are over 30 different "methods" that a coach can use to help you, and it's important that you find someone whose approach resonates with you. Some coaches emphasize feelings, while others focus more on specific action steps. Many use traditional counseling methods to help you overcome obstacles, and others come from employ a more "corporate" training model. And all coaches will have particular strengths and preferences in their approach.
It's important to recognize which type of coaching you RESPOND to best -- and which will fill in the GAPS between your own personal strengths. If you are very sensitive, you may flourish under coaching that is supportive and nurturing. If you tend to become overwhelmed by your goals, you may need a coach who can take vague, nebulous ideas and turn them into concrete actions. And if you have a hard time crossing the finish line with your projects, you might do well to hire a coach who can keep you on track and make you accountable to your deadlines. Talk to your coach about his or her philosophy toward the coaching process to get a sense of where he or she is coming from.EXPERTISE
EXPERTISE
The next step is to look at a coach's area of SPECIALIZATION. Remember that each different circumstance might call for a different approach. It isn't always a good idea to use the same coach when working on different areas of your life. A good football coach isn't necessarily going to be successful coaching a basketball team or a group of baseball players. And the same is true for personal coaching.
While many coaches sell themselves as "holistic" in their approach, most have one or two areas that they focus on more than others. You might find one coach who is great at helping entrepreneurs with the art of selling, another who specializes in creating healthy lifestyles, and a third who works almost exclusively with folks who suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder. Certainly, one size doesn't fit all in this case. Be sure to select someone who has EXPERIENCE in your particular area of need -- don't be afraid to ask for references from clients who have worked with the coach on similar issues.
PERSONALITY
Coaching is often a lengthy and very intimate relationship -- you will be sharing your innermost fears, dreams, and ambitions with another person and asking for a supportive and non-judgmental attitude (that's more than many of us do with our friends and family!) You need to feel a RAPPORT with your coach, or you will never achieve the level of success that could be available to you. If you feel constantly on your guard or resistant or uncomfortable, think about using a different coach. You can tell a lot about your future relationship with a coach from your initial INTERVIEW -- how does this person make you feel? Would you be comfortable sharing your secrets with this person? Do you have any reservations about working with this coach?
CREDENTIALS
While coaching is still a relatively unregulated field, there are some standard CERTIFICATIONS you might want your coach to have. Coach University (http://www.coachu.com) offers two designations -- the Certified Graduate (CCG) and Certified Master Coach (CCMC). The International Coaches Federation (http://www.coachfederation.org) also offers an Associate Credentialed Coach (ACC) certification, a Professional Credentialed Coach (PCC) certification, and a Master Credentialed Coach (MCC) certification. You can visit these sites to review the requirements for each certification. While these kinds of credentials don't guarantee a good fit with your coach, they do indicate that he/she has completed study of core coaching COMPETENCIES -- it's not just some "Joe Sixpack" off the street who decided to hang a shingle out.
In addition, find out what your coach's prior BACKGROUND is. Someone who has an MBA and has worked as a sales director for a Fortune 500 company is probably completely competent to coach you on sales technique and business growth. However, he/she might not have any experience working with people on health and wellness issues. Ask your coach what led him/her into the FIELD -- many times, coaches will have experienced their own challenges and epiphanies and wanted to share their techniques and successes with others. Make sure your coach knows what he/she is talking about before you sign on.
YOUR COACH'S ROLE
There are three main roles your coach can take in your relationship:
- MENTOR (one who supports your ideas, gives you a safe place to stretch your
wings, and nurtures your goals as you develop them)
- VISIONEER (one who helps you to see beyond your boundaries, suggests new
approaches, and helps you view the world from a different perspective)
- TASKMASTER (one who turn dreams into action steps, helps set and meet
deadlines, and keeps you on track as you move forward)
Every coach will display a bit of each personality -- but, of course, some will lean further in one direction than in another. You need to have some idea of what you WANT from your coach before you start working together. Do you need someone to support and affirm and validate you -- or someone to help you brainstorm new ideas and push beyond your current limits -- or a coach who will make you accountable to and responsible for your goals? Maybe some of each? COMMUNICATE these needs with your coach upfront so you can insure that you will get what you want from your coaching relationship.
WHAT DO YOU WANT HELP WITH?
This can be an incredibly tricky question for someone who is thinking about hiring a coach. Many times, you don't have a clue what you want -- besides the vague notion that you want your life to improve somehow. That's okay -- let your coach know that you that you need help CLARIFYING and PRIORITIZING your goals. Or you may have a solid idea of the end result you desire -- you want to make more money or feel healthier or create more balance between your business and personal life -- but you don't know how to begin or what steps to take.
Tell your coach that you need help creating an ACTION PLAN -- breaking your large goal down into manageable steps and finding the resources you need to succeed. If you are feeling frustrated because you have tried over and over again to accomplish your goal -- let's say losing weight -- but you never seem to get there, let your coach know that you need help finding the right path, staying MOTIVATED, and making it to the end. But whatever your reason for hiring a coach, don't be surprised if you find yourself working on other areas of your life during your sessions. Coaching is a very integrated activity, and you will find that success in one area tends to spread to the others.
Your coaching relationship has the potential to be one of the most rewarding of your life ? if you choose the right person to share it with. Be sure to INTERVIEW several coaches thoroughly before making a decision. And if you end up with the wrong coach, don't suffer in silence. Many people think that they are UNCOACHABLE, when they are simply working with the wrong person. Don't be afraid to walk out of a relationship that isn't working (that's just what a coach would tell you!)
Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- a web-based one-stop shop offering everything that you need to get organized at home or at work. At OnlineOrganizing.com, you may get a referral to an organizer near you, shop for the latest organizing products, get tons of free tips, and even learn how to become a professional organizer or build your existing organizing business. And if you would like to read more articles about organizing your life or building your business, get a free subscription to the "Get Organized" and "Organized For A Living" newsletters. Please visit http://www.OnlineOrganizing.com or contact Ramona directly at ramona@onlineorganizing.com for more information.
 Google News Updated : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:50:04 GMT Study Shows Weak Circumcision/HIV Benefit for Gay/Bisexual Men - WebMD
WebMD - By Daniel J. DeNoon Oct. 7, 2008 -- Circumcision offers little HIV protection to gay/bisexual men -- overall. But it might cut HIV risk in predominantly insertive partners. Circumcision HIV impact doubted AIDS Benefits of Circumcision Are Limited, Study Finds Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:24:47 GMT McCain, Obama discuss possible Treasury secretary picks - Reuters
Reuters - NASHVILLE, Oct 7 (Reuters) - US presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama both mentioned investor Warren Buffett as a possible pick for Treasury secretary on Tuesday but both spoke in only general terms about the qualities they would seek ... McCain, Obama agree that Buffett could lead US treasury (Extra) A Strong eBay, A Strong Government Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:06:13 GMT Uneasy calm in Bangkok after day of deadly riots - Reuters
Reuters - BANGKOK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - An uneasy calm settled over the Thai capital on Wednesday after the worst street violence in 16 years the day before, when two people died and nearly 400 were injured in clashes between police and anti-government protesters. Video: Raw Video: Tear Gas Fired at Thai Protestors Two dead as Thai troops battle protesters Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:18:31 GMT With Outlook Dim, Bernanke Says Fed May Act on Rates - New York Times
New York Times - By DAVID STOUT and EDMUND L. ANDREWS WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, said on Tuesday that the turmoil in the financial markets had increased the risk to overall growth and that federal regulators would have to be vigilant to ... Video: Bernanke signals possible rate cut Bernanke hints at possible interest rate cut Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:40:38 GMT Tehran confirms seizure of aircraft - Financial Times
Financial Times - By Thomas Escritt in Budapest and Najmeh Bozorgmehr in,Tehran Iran yesterday revealed that it had forced a Hungarian-crewed transport aircraft to land after it strayed into the Islamic republic's airspace at the end of last month. Iran Withdraws Claim on US Plane US Military: Tense Encounters With Iran Occur Almost Daily Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:08:03 GMT ACORN office in Vegas raided in voter-fraud probe - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada authorities seized records Tuesday from a group they accused of submitting fraudulent voter-registration forms - including for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys. Non-Profit Raided In Voter Fraud Probe ACORN Nevada Office Raided Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:01:25 GMT Nashville Knockout: What To Watch For - Washington Post
Washington Post - Riggers lift scaffolding into place in front of the Curb Events event site at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, as preparations continue for Tuesday's presidential debate. WRAPUP 5-Obama, McCain battle over taxes, economy Presidential debate: minute by minute Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:08:13 GMT Easy Work At Home Opportunity |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... "Happiness is not a matter of good fortune or worldly... Read More Coaching is a hot trend at a growing number of... Read More Use all of your brain to be your most effective."Running... Read More Of the 60,000 people who lived to be over 100... Read More 1. Do not believe everything you hear!With close friends and... Read More Nobody will stop you in the hallway at work to... Read More Articulating repetitive statements with emotion will inevitably connect you to... Read More Technically, there are two types of grief groups. Informational and... Read More In my speaking engagements I have often compared coaching today... Read More Do you ever get an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach... Read More "There is a certain combination of desire and discipline in... Read More Despite our skills, experience or expertise we can still make... Read More Have you ever noticed how the way you feel about... Read More A recent study at the University of Florida found that... Read More I don't know why, but it seems we trip over... Read More When I started my sales career over 25 years ago,... Read More Be conscious, aware, and alert. Pay attention. Remember when you... Read More When we are ill and don't know it, we are... Read More Imagine for a moment one of those nights when you... Read More Trump University recently unveiled offers a bonanza of success secrets,... Read More Many business coaches deny the power of suggestion while using... Read More A few weeks ago at a "Leadership from the Ground... Read More From the time Jennifer was a little child, she was... Read More Three steps to your Personal Transformation:Awareness and PerceptionLaw of Cause... Read More Personal missions statements (PMS) are just nothing but the winning... Read More
Adsense
websites
What Do You Have To Give?
Get Coached!
Automatic Brain Works Overtime For You
The Adventure Attitude
Three Great Ways to Deal with Negative People
The Mid-Life Challenge: Make a Plan to Re-ignite Vocational Passion
What Dost Thou Speaketh? Hey, Affirm This Way!
The Role of Grief Group Facilitators
What in the World is Life Coaching?
Say Adios to the Fear of Rejection!
Business Career Executive Coaching Article -Motivator, Discipline and Desire
Working With Choices
A Small Piece Of Carpet
Do You Make Less Money Than Your Taller Peers?
An Example of Allowing a Desire to Arrive on Its Own
A World of Possibility
Essence of Awakeness
Finding Peace: A Taste of Mindfulness
Live With An Attitude Of Gratitude
Trump University - Why Success Education Is Important
Some Business Coaches are in Error
How Do You Build Momentum in Your Business and Life?
The Need to Feel Special
Cause and Effect! Choose a Path
101 Winning Choices
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Embracing Excellence
Joey rises before dawn to pack his lunch, eager for... Read More
The Power of Online Memberships
Have you ever noticed geese flying overhead, whether that be... Read More
Enhancing Life for a Lifetime
Do you often feel lonely, anxious, or even depressed? Is... Read More
Do You Want to Make More Money as A Life Coach
There's a lot of coaches out there not making any... Read More
Your Responsibility
The other day I decided to skip cooking dinner and... Read More
Tips for Writing Great Coaching E-Books
Never understimate the power of a well-written word. Tens of... Read More
The Power of Storytelling
Each and every day as we are building our businesses,... Read More
101 Winning Choices
Personal missions statements (PMS) are just nothing but the winning... Read More
Success: Cant Achieve It By Yourself? Pay A Professional!
So many people go through the motions of trying to... Read More
Mindfulness and Multiple Intelligences: 8 Ways to Pay Attention
How are you smart?Let me count the ways.Harvard professor Howard... Read More
Make Progress Now: Take the Hand Brakes Off Your Life!
Do you find yourself striving upward in life yet making... Read More
Developing Will Power and Self Discipline
Most people admire and respect strong individuals, who have won... Read More
Can I Be My Own ADD Coach?
Quite often I am in contact with people who discuss... Read More
Forget Resolutions - Craft A Life Theme That Works
How many people do you know who, in January, enthusiastically... Read More
Is The Apprentice Bad For Your Health?
If you know who I mean when I say Kwame,... Read More
The Enchantment of Tribes to Belong To
I am remembering and have a desire to share with... Read More
Controlling Behavior, Loving Behavior
When Zack and Tiffany started counseling with me, they were... Read More
4 Ways To Avoid Looking Stupid When Making Small Talk
The fear of saying something silly and feeling embarrassed stops... Read More
Ten Ways to Make New Years Resolutions That You Can Actually Keep!
Are you one of the millions of people who make... Read More
Secrets of Creating Interpersonal Power
If you work with people, as a company owner, manager... Read More
Buyer Beware: Choose A Business Coach Carefully To Get The Results You Want
Consider this scenario. A colleague suggests you get a business... Read More
Is Time Really Easier to Sell than Products? Generate Extra Revenue by Packaging Up What You Know
Over the years I've worked with very many coaches and... Read More
Are You Invisible?
Ellen was brought up to be invisible. She was taught... Read More
The Art of Change
We don't change. I imagine such a statement could find... Read More
The Adventure Attitude
Of the 60,000 people who lived to be over 100... Read More
Coaching |