How to Hire the Best Coach for Your Situation

If you are thinking of seeking out a coach for your professional development, you know it can be a real challenge to know what to look for. You want to be sure to hire the best coach for your situation.

Maybe you’re in a tough spot and you think you might just need a coach. But, you’re not sure. You know it would be great to have a confidential thinking partner to help you work things, but you’re not sure what to look for in a good coach.

Although you may think that the only important thing is that your coach has experience in your industry, it’s not the only factor to consider. In fact, some of the best coaches will have limited knowledge of your profession, but an extensive record of success in coaching.

So, how can you be sure you are hiring the most highly qualified coach? 

You need to understand what commonly differentiates one coach from another. In order to hire the best coach,  it’s also important to understand that the term ‘coach’ is often used in place of other professional roles.

Coach: An individual who provides coaching services to a particular target market and who may or may not have received coach training.

Questions to consider:

• Is the coach formally trained in coaching?
• If not, what background qualifications does the coach have that equips this individual to provide competent coaching services?

Consultant/Specialist: An individual with expert knowledge that is shared with clients in an advisory capacity. Consultants typically provide tips, techniques, direction, and advice to their clients.

Questions to consider:

• Are you seeking an advisor? Someone who is knowledgeable in your field and qualified to give specific strategies and direction for your issue?
• What background qualifications equip this individual to provide consulting services?

Mentor – An individual with extensive personal or professional experience in a particular organization, field, role, or situation. Mentors often share feedback, strategies, and lessons learned from their own experiences.

Questions to consider:

• Will the experiences of this individual provide you with insights that you can apply to your situation?
• Would advice from the perspective of someone who has ‘been there and done that’ be of the most value to you at this time?

Mentor Coach – An individual with extensive professional experience in coaching who is hired by coaches to assist them in developing their coaching skills through observation and feedback. This individual is generally hired by coaches who are in coach training or who are seeking a coaching credential. A mentor coach is most often dedicated to working with other coaches.

Questions to consider:

• Does this individual have a track record of success in providing professional coaching to paying clients?
• Is this individual knowledgeable about coaching, and specifically about the criteria required for coach credentialing?
• Does this individual know, and follow, the mentor coaching guidelines set out by the coach credentialing organization you are aligning with?

Certified, Trained, Credentialed, or Accredited? What’s the right term?

There is some real confusion in the coaching marketplace about the correct terms of reference. Here’s a quick primer:

Coach Training: A program designed to provide individuals with coach education. Some coach training is focused on a field of practice like Executive Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Business Coaching, or Life Coaching. Others are centered around a particular coaching model. Colleges, universities, and numerous private organizations provide coach training in various formats, depths, and durations.

Certified Coach: An individual who has participated in a coach training program and received a certificate of completion from the organization providing the training.

Questions to consider:

• Where did the coach receive coach training?
• How long was the program?
• What was the program’s main area of focus?

Accredited Coach Training: A program that meets the standards for the delivery of coach training as set out by a recognized regulatory association like The International Coaching Federation.

Questions to consider:

• Did the coach attend an accredited coaching training program?
• What was the accrediting organization?
• What are the criteria for accreditation?

Coach Credential: A designation given by a coaching association to a coach who has completed a required number of hours of accredited coach training, who agrees to abide by a Code of Ethics and Standards, and who has completed a required number of paid coaching hours.

Credentialed Coach: An individual who has participated in a coach training program that has been officially recognized by a regulatory association as one which meets its professional standards; and who has earned a coaching credential.

Questions to consider:

• Does the coach hold a coaching credential?
• What was the credentialing organization?
• What are the criteria for acquiring the credential?

When you’re stuck, and you need help figuring out what to do next, getting just the right professional is an important first step. Understanding what differentiates one role from another can help. If it’s a coach you are looking for, I hope this short primer will help you hire the right coach for your situation.

Thinking about hiring a professional coach for you, or individuals in your organization? Let’s talk!