Finding the right Executive Coach can be tricky.
If it’s the first time you are hiring an Executive Coach how would you know if you are making the right decision?
Here is a checklist to help you make your decision:
- Qualification: Unlike other professions, a lot of executive coaches out there are either unqualified or do not have adequate training to do the job. You will often find consultants, trainers and facilitators calling themselves coaches. It is important to check if the coach has the right qualifications. A good way to do this is to ask for credentials. Some renowned credentialing bodies are the International Coach Federation(ICF), European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) Association of Coaches(AOC). A qualified coach will hold valid certifications from at least one or more of these organizations.
- Experience: Coaching is a practice and practice makes perfect. Higher the coach’s experience higher are the chances of the coach being more effective. So lookout for the number of years that the coach has been in practice. A key point to note here is the number of years of practice “as a coach” not just the overall work experience of the person. This is because a lot of coaches have prior experience in a variety of fields before they become professional coaches. So while they may be experienced professionals they may not be experienced coaches
- Chemistry: Not every coach and client are suited for each other. Every coach has a distinct style. For e. g. some coaches are better at challenging while others are more appreciative. Speak to the prospective coach and check if you feel comfortable interacting with them. Remember that you may be sharing a lot about yourself with the coach in the coming sessions. So you should be able to talk openly and honestly with the person. Trust your gut.
- Proven results: Check for recommendations on LinkedIn or the coach’s website to understand how other people’s experiences have been. A good coach will typically have a good number of recommendations that they can share.
- Budget: A good coach can be expensive because the industry pricing is largely proportional to the expertise and effectiveness. Unless affordability is a big issue look at hiring the coach that you can work best with. It may also be preferable to hire an expensive coach who gets you to your outcome in lesser sessions than one who charges less and gets you there in a long time. Another way to look at cost of a coach is as an investment into yourself. Would this be a justified expense to meet your goals?