Deciding how and when to engage a professional coach may not feel straight forward. Your readiness to invest the time and effort to a coaching program might be triggered by one of several work or career crossroads.
Are you looking to expand your leadership capabilities, improve your performance under pressure, or reassess your career direction? Do you want to be ‘that’ leader with the courage to build coaching culture within your team, or perhaps address the well-being outcomes you need yet have neglected for too long? If you said yes to any of these questions, you might be ready to take the next step. Whichever of these circumstances you may find yourself in, a professional coach may help you change what you find hard to do on your own. A professional coach may bring your vision to reality in a way that may not otherwise happen or may accelerate your journey with more confidence and less stress than you may otherwise endure.
Coaching credentials and capabilities
Assessing the credentials and capabilities of a professional coach, especially to the uninitiated, may be extra confusing as the ‘community of practice’ is technically unregulated.
Finding a professional coach that is right for you, like engaging most professional services, is not always straightforward. Word of mouth and referrals from colleagues goes a long way in starting your search.
Questions to ask a potential coach or a coaching services provider include the following if you don’t already know:
- What credentials do you have in professional coaching?
- How much experience do you have in professional coaching?
- What sort of coaching programs are available and how programs are structured?
- What if I don’t gel with my coach? Can I change my coach?
- Can I reschedule an appointment?
- Are sessions offered virtually/in-person?
- How can I get more information about the fees?
Other things to consider
Like the fees of other professional services, the cost of engaging a professional coach varies due to numerous factors. Variation in fees may relate to the coach’s experience and credentials, the types of certifications they hold, and the demand for their services. Typically, a coaching program offers a recommended number of coaching hours. However, there is flexibility regarding frequency and length of sessions, and the inclusion of psychometric assessments or your manager’s involvement as optional considerations designed to suit your need and for discussion during a general enquiry call.
There are core competencies to look for when you are considering whether a coach is right for you. The International Coaching Federation, the leading global organisation for coaches and coaching, includes the following:
- Can they provide clear agreements about the coaching relationship, the process, the plans, and the costs?
- Did you feel they were fully present to what you were saying and responsive to your needs?
- Were you comfortable and willing to share your thoughts and feelings freely without feeling judged?
The next steps
Spend some time on an obligation free call. Explain your interests in coaching, explore if and how a coaching program can meet your development needs, and how it may be offered.