GOOD TO KNOW
WHY DOES COACHING WORK SO WELL?
It's because it provides a unique combination of:
Questioning
Support
Structure
Accountability
Objective Feedback
Action
And this we can do either face-to-face or on the phone.
Would you like to hire a coach to support you?
Great idea! But before you hire a new coach, check they are qualified, competent, experienced, and a good fit.
What questions should you ask a prospective coach?
I myself was trained at Coach University, a coaching school accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
One of the classes was on Ethics in Coaching. And one part of my ethical responsibility as a trained professional is to educate potential clients about coaching and coaching competence.
The barriers to becoming a coach are virtually non-existent. In fact, anyone can call themselves a coach.
It’s not that simple.
A surprising number of my clients come to me after having a poor experience with an unqualified so-called "coach".
I don't want you to experience that.
Margaret Krigbaum, MCC, contributed to Patrick Williams and Sharon Anderson's book “Law and Ethics in Coaching” .With input from clients, she developed a list of questions a prospective client could ask a coach about competence.
Here’s a few questions you can ask before hiring a coach:
• Do you have a certification or credential?
• What were the requirements to achieve the credential?
• Did you attend a coach training program?
• How long did it take to graduate from the program?
• Is the program recognized by a neutral international professional coaching body with no ties to the program?
• How will we as a client and coach work together?
• Do you have an agreement?
• What do you do on an ongoing basis to strengthen your skills as a coach?
• Do you have a coach?
• What do you consider your greatest strength as a coach?
• As a professional coach, what areas do you need to improve?
If someone says they’re a coach, these questions would be a good place to start to learn more about them and their qualifications.