Unleash  Your  Passion  for  People

Unleash  Your  Passion  for  People

CHOOSING a Life Coach

choosing the right life coach



HOW DO I GO ABOUT CHOOSING A LIFE COACH?

This is a common question we get asked. 

Getting this right is really important. The right life coach will assist you to achieve goals and dreams that might otherwise remain poorly defined and elusive .

We are pleased to outline below, the steps we believe you should should consider when choosing a life coach.




THE Four filters to apply when choosing a life coach

The law of supply and demand dictates that as the demand for personal coaching services rises, so will the supply. The key question, then, for many individuals already convinced of the benefits of coaching, is:

"How do I go about choosing a life coach that's just right for me?"

We suggest you make your choice by applying four simple filters to ensure you get the best match for you.


FILTER 1. Demographic matching

If you're set on face-to-face coaching then you'll need someone who you can reach within a reasonable traveling distance.

However, being coached remotely (Skype, Zoom and other free VOIP services are very popular for those with broadband internet) is an option that you should not discount lightly as it can be amazingly effective.

If you work best with people of your own - or the opposite - gender, then this too will influence your choice.

There are many excellent, vibrant and surprisingly wise young coaches around, but you may feel uncomfortable with having a coach who is half your age. Alternatively, as a young person, you might prefer to have a coach that has extensive life experience to draw on; someone who's 'been there and done that'!

The fees that life coaches charge come into the equation too, of course. If possible though, don't be tempted to restrict the field by applying this filter right up front.

Look past the advertised fees, if you can. Find the ideal match using the steps outlined and then negotiate with your preferred coach if you need to, to fit your budget.

When it comes to fees, many coaches are negotiable and some will offer substantial discounts to clients prepared to pay for the entire coaching program in advance.

When considering the value of your investment in life coaching, look at what you will pay over, say six months, and think how worthwhile that will be if you achieve one or two of your most desired goals.


FILTER 2. Niche matching

"Matching the niche" is a more difficult step.

Consider this: If you own a house that is built out of timber on the side of a steep hill and you decide to add an extension with an overhanging deck, who would you be more likely to contract with; a general builder - or a builder who specializes in timber homes and cantilevered decking?

When you hire a life coach, you generally do so with a knowledge of the key issues or areas of your life you specifically want to focus on improving. And it may well be that you'll find a life coach whose specialist niche matches perfectly.

Most really successful life coaches have chosen clearly defined niches, such as 'personal empowerment', 'intimate relationships', 'self-confidence', 'youth development', 'career building', 'retirement', 'financial freedom', 'childbirth', and so on.


FILTER 3. Skills matching

Once you've decided on a rough demographic profile of your ideal coach and the niche (if any) that you fall into, you can move on to Step 3, which we call "matching the skills", although this is about more than just skills.

There is, at least currently, no form of regulation governing the life coaching 'profession' in South Africa, or, for that matter, most developed countries.

This is a good thing in that there are no barriers to entry into an industry where having a passion for people and a gift for helping others achieve their dreams is far more important than a raft of high-falluting academic qualifications.

But this is also a bad thing in that any 'Tom', 'Dick' or 'Harriet' can write 'life coach' on his or her business card and set up in practice without necessarily having the skills, techniques, experience and structure required to back up their coaching.

Good quality life coaches are self-selecting. A life coach will not survive long in business without good word-of-mouth endorsements and client testimonials.

Let's face it - someone is either really effective at helping people transform their lives - or not!

Always ask a prospective coach for testimonials or references - and check them out. Ask the coach where and in what method they have been trained. Ask to see their certification and do some research on the coach training provider to check their reputation.

Try to determine how passionate your shortlisted coaches are about the calling they have chosen. Are they registered with any body that promotes ongoing professional development for coaches? Do they subscribe to any relevant code of ethics?


FILTER 4. Vibrational matching

The final step in our guide, how to choose a life coach, is, in our opinion, the most important of all.

We call it "matching the vibration".

Choosing the life coach that's just 'right' (as opposed to 'good') is, arguably, a more important decision than choosing the 'right' doctor or dentist.

Whereas a 'good' doctor will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe effective medication without necessarily doing it in a way that has you warming to him or her, a 'good' coach (i.e. a well trained, equipped and ethical coach) but one with whom you are unable to build a great rapport, will be unlikely to do much for you.

Rapport is vital to the coaching relationship. Establishing an emotional bond with your life coach based on mutual liking and respect, trust, and belief in each other, is the foundation for the achievement of great things through coaching.

Great life coaches will have that something special that allows them to empower their clients to go well beyond the normal and yet still be compassionate and caring in their approach.

How do you establish whether there's a 'vibrational match' with your coach? 

Great coaches worth their salt will offer a free first session that may range from a basic introduction to a client assessment to a full blown goal-setting session in some cases. This is a great opportunity to see if you and your coach are an ideal match.


A final thought

If you've ever doubted the power of life coaching, think about this.

Every great coach will tell you that the one thing crucial to their success is having their own personal coach!

Ask the life coaches on your shortlist whether they have their own life coach?

Good luck with choosing a life coach just perfect for you! 


VISIT our Life Coach Directory

Click on the image below to be taken to our Life Coach Directory, where you can find a selection of New Insights trained life coaches, all of whom subscribe to our Code of Ethics.


life coach directory

Click on the image to be taken to the New Insights Life Coach Directory




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