Why hire a coach?

This may be the first time you’ve considered coaching, so let’s start by describing what it is (and what it isn’t).

Coaching:

• Helps you change behaviours that are no longer helpful

• Supports you in adjusting to increasing stress or new situations 

• Focuses on specific areas like work relationships or the demands of your new function or business  

• Has a positive knock-on effect on other areas of your life

• Helps you take back the steering wheel in your life

You’re guided in that process by a coach. A coach has trained to guide people through changes and often made the same shift themselves. 

Coaching isn’t:

• Therapy or treatment for underlying psychological disorders or addictions

• A lie-back and let-the-coach-sort-it-all-out-for-you approach

• A way to look like you’re working on something to keep others off your back

If this sounds useful to you, read on.   

How to decide on a coach?

It’s important that you have a click with a coach and that you feel confident they will be able to help you. And the coach needs to assess if and how they can best support you. So, every responsible coaching process should start with a discovery call often called an intake or clarity call.

During the clarity call you explain what you’re looking for and the kind of support you’d like. It’s ok if you find this hard to put into words, because the coach asks you questions, so you both decide if it’s a good idea to work together.  

If a coach thinks they can’t help you, they should refer you to someone with the right expertise to support you. That means that an intake is always going to help you get clearer on what you want and a step closer to finding the best solution for you. 

Here are some questions to help you decide if booking an intake with a particular coach is a good idea:

1. Do they have relevant experience for my situation?

2. Am I interested to meet them? (Make sure you read their profile or website or ask for more information)

3. What do other people say about them?

4. What results do they help their clients get? 

Recognise these characteristics in yourself (or a partner, colleague, or friend)? 

• You’re ambitious and driven?

• It’s difficult for you to accept help? 

• You’re harder on yourself than on others?

• There’s so much going on that you can’t see the wood for the trees?

• You’d love to feel more calm, confident and in control?

Find out more about booking a discovery call with me, Anna Perry, here.