Coaches: Not Just For Athletes Anymore
Roger Federer dominated professional tennis last year with an amazing record of 92 wins and just five losses. Even with this astounding record, this unbelievable athlete has a coach because he knows he needs help to bag the one title that has eluded him so far in his career—winning the French Open.
Federer’s belief that a coach can help him achieve his long-term goals is exactly the same reason many high-performing Nevada business professionals have hired their own personal coaches. They understand that having someone focused on their personal or professional development helps them achieve their goals and improve their performance.
Both professional and personal coaching involve a recognized process provided by a trained professional to clarify vision and values, set goals, implement strategies for success, resolve challenges as they arise, maintain focus on the tasks, refine personal and professional skills, maintain motivation, and evaluate outcomes. Sounds like a lot of stuff, doesn’t it? But it definitely demonstrates the value a coach can bring.
Deciding you would like to work with a coach to improve your performance is the easy part—finding an appropriate coach is a little more difficult. While the quality of training for coaches varies, there is universal recognition of the importance of training in communications and human behavior as a cornerstone to the profession.
There are some certifications for coaches, but I know many fabulous coaches who are not certified. A good coach knows about skills, structure, support, and how to motivate people to attain their goals. Coaches don’t necessarily need to be experts in any particular field, but they must be adept at helping people stay focused and making things happen.
Effective coaches have experience and wisdom and, most importantly, they are neutral. They just want YOU to succeed and are truly looking out for your best interest.
Here are some steps you can take to find the best coach for you and your situation:
1. Ask people you trust to recommend coaches. Be sure to get several names. You want to find a coach that has a track record of delivering results.
2. Look up the local chapter of professional coaches for a list of certified coaches. (In Nevada, try Nevada Professional Coaches at http://www.nevadacoaches.org/NPCA_Contact.htm.)
3. Interview the coaches and ask the following questions: How long have you been a coach? What kind of training do you have? What makes you a successful coach? What are your fees? How will you measure the results of our work together?
4. Ask for three to five satisfied customers as references and call them. Make sure one of the references has been a client for a year or more and that another has been working with the coach for at least three to six months.
5. Meet with the coaches you have chosen to learn more about their approach and to see if they are a good fit for you.
It’s important that you not only like a coach’s personality, but also the way the coach organizes and communicates. Ask each coach to give you one coaching session so you can experience what it will be like. The first task you and your new coach will undertake is to work out a plan that includes the results you can expect from the coaching. Then, choose a time period in which you will work together, usually about four sessions to start. Be sure to check in at the end of that time period to determine if you are getting what you need.
If you’re dissatisfied or feel the coaching is not working, let the coach know immediately by saying something like, “I don’t feel like I’m getting results from the coaching. I would like to discuss this with you.” The coach should make the needed adjustments or let you know it’s not a good fit and help you find another coach. Finally, understand that following a coach’s advice can become habit forming. You make progress so much more quickly, and success at each level leads to the desire for more coaching to get you to the next level!
