If you are looking for help creating a vision of your future and achieving your goals, hiring a life coach might be right for you.
However, not all life coaches are created equal.
A life coach is someone that you will be working with closely, you want to make sure that they are a good fit.
Let's take a look at what you consider for success when you are looking to find a life coach.
Figure Out Which Kind of Life Coach You're Looking For
While many life coaches are able to give guidance to people who are in various stages of life, others might look for life coaches that specialize in specific areas.
This might mean career, financial, relationship, family, mental health, spiritual, or health and wellness coaching. Understanding which type of coaching you're looking for can help you to find the right life coach for you.
Look For a Thoroughly Trained and Certified Life Coach
There is not much in the way of regulation or governance for the life coaching industry. However, this is not mean that there are not evidence-based coaching models and training that coaches can go through.
You'll want to find a life coach that has been thoroughly trained. Whether you are interested in in-person or online life coaching, you want to make sure that the individual has the experience and qualifications to guide you in this way.
Make Sure a Life Coach Is Actually What You're Looking For
There are other disciplines that are related to life coaching that can be confused with each other. These include mentorship and therapy.
Each of these fields actually has its own unique characteristics.
If you are looking to dig into your past, you are likely more interested in therapy than life coaching. A life coach will try to help you understand who you are and how you got that way, but the intention will be set on using the self-awareness of these discoveries to help you build your future.
A mentor serves the role of offering advice and guidance based on their own experience. On the other hand, a life coach is trying to help you find the right solutions and answers you.
There is a time and place for all of these disciplines, however, it's a good idea to understand the differences so you know you will receive the help you are expecting.
Ask Questions About Their Coaching Style
One of the things that will determine whether a life coach is a good fit for you is there coaching style. Different coaches will have different styles based on their training and personality.
When you are working with another person in this type of way, you want to make sure that your personalities work well together. You might find that a more challenging coach is right up your alley, or you might be looking for someone who is more supportive and warm.
You can ask your prospective coach about their coaching style. Then you can consider whether the style will support you in your efforts to achieve your goals.
Determine the Cost
Budget is an important factor for most things. You'll want to find out how much life coaching sessions cost before embarking on them.
In general, coaches tend to charge between $50-$500 an hour. You'll want to ask any prospective coach what resources and services are included in the hourly rate.
You can also check to see if they have a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the services.
When you are looking for a life coach, you are looking to make an investment in yourself and your future. For this reason, it doesn't necessarily make sense to just go with the cheapest life coach. At the same time, the most expensive life coach is not necessarily the most high-quality coach.
For this reason, it's worth asking a lot of questions and shopping around to find a good fit for you.
Have a Consultation
It is common for life coaches to offer a free consultation. This is a wonderful opportunity to find out if their style is a good match for you and if the coach is a good set. You also want to take note of how comfortable you feel around them.
It's important that you feel at ease with a life coach as this is an opportunity for you to discover and explore yourself. If you do not feel that you are in a judgment-free or safe environment, this will be very difficult. It's important that you feel wholly comfortable being yourself around your life coach.
Just because you don't feel at ease around a certain life coach, does not mean that they are not talented in the field. It is important to understand that you will simply get along with some people better than others, and any high-quality life coach will understand this as well.
Understand What to Expect When You Find a Life Coach
While all life coaches will have different styles, there are certain things that they should all share in common.
These include being accountable, a good listener, and goal-oriented. You also want to find a life coach that is a strategic thinker, has high expectations and your potential, and is always up for a challenge. All of these qualities will help you on your path to discovering your own potential future and achieve your goals.
Are You Looking For Life Coaches For Professionals?
At Executive Coaching Now, we have over 25 years of experience delivering customized and results-oriented solutions to our clients.
Is it time for you to find a life coach? You can meet our coaches here!