How Do I Know if Coaching is the Way Forward for Me?

by Suzie Doscher
 
First of all, you are reading this article which shows that on some level you are curious. You might be interested in the topic or maybe have a colleague or friend who is working on personal development with a coach already. Or maybe you are increasingly aware of an issue or behaviour pattern you are now willing to change.
 
Coaching Scenarios:

• You know ‘something has to give’ because you do not like the way your life is going, the path you are on, the quality of day-to-day life is not good enough or your work / life balance needs upgrading.
• The issue for coaching is fairly straight forward. You already know what you want but are not sure how to start or prefer to have support and encouragement.
• In your workplace, it has been suggested that a behaviour change would be beneficial, however the company does not offer coaching.

 
Consider coaching if you are:

• Aware that talking about it is not changing anything
• Willing to stop going to friends or colleagues to talk to them about the same topic –equally they are tired of hearing about it
• Understanding that looking for advice from colleagues and friends is not enough
• Curious to look inside yourself for some answers
• Prepared to shift and start living life differently, which might mean...
• Stepping outside of what you know, into the unknown – outside your comfort zone – outside your 'box'

 
The next steps might be: 

• Narrowing down what will work best for you: language, in-person meetings or Skype sessions, location, cost, length of sessions, how many sessions does the coach recommend?
• Researching the local market on Google, ask friends & colleagues if they know anybody
• Reading the testimonials / recommendations to get a feel for the coach and his/her strengths
• Seeing which websites / coaches appeal to you, 'speak your language'
• Asking if a coach's approach aligns with the issue you want to address
• Getting in touch with one or more coaches and talking to them
• Making your choice
• Starting to change your life. And remember: “Actions speak louder than words."

 
The investment:
Money:

• Obviously coaching is a financial investment. However, this does not have to mean a huge investment. I suggest starting with a single session to be certain you have chosen the right coach. The rapport between you and your coach is one of the most important factors for success.

Time:

• Make sure you are committed enough to carve the time out of your schedule and the chosen coach can accommodate your schedule.

It is important to know the difference between all the various approaches to change, see my article  ​Coaching vs. Trainings / Consulting / Mentoring / Traditional Therapies  for more information.
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