Agreeing on a Coaching Plan
It can be difficult to find the perfect coach for you when you’ve never done it before. There are many types of coaches, with various backgrounds and different areas of specialization. Here are some quick tips to get you started on the right foot:
1 – self-assess your needs first. Be as specific as possible on current challenges, and goals you need to accomplish in order to feel improvement was made. Don’t just rely on a company’s assessment tools. They may not have them, or they may be general. Compare your assessment with theirs!
2 – Google search for a coach or training company using the specific area targeted for improvement, like ‘communication coach’, ‘presentation coach’, ‘executive management coach’, ‘confidence coach’ etc. See what comes up on the first page and then explore their sites/profiles/articles. Go deep, beyond the company/coach website. This is important.
3 – You can choose a company that has a good reputation for providing training but ultimately you will still need to choose an individual coach. When the company recommends a certain coach for your program, ask for a bio document or their LinkedIn profile so you can see what type of person they are recommending for you. Next arrange a free consultation with the coach (20 minute phone/Skype call or a longer in-person meeting) to see if there is a ‘fit’ in both comfort and strategy to solve your challenges.
4 – Ensure you and the coach/coaching company have agreed on the top priorities to focus the coaching on, and then get it in writing. Companies should have some kind of proposal or coaching agreement they can send to you that outlines the coaching focus, program/curriculum specifics, price, location and other policies to be aware of.
5 – Give it a go! A coach is a partner, not a teacher. They will help you achieve your goals if you put in equal effort. If for some reason the coaching is not working out, check your coaching agreement to see if you can modify the program or even switch coaches. After all, if you are not energized and happy, it will be very difficult to face your challenges and move beyond them.
Good luck!