Perhaps you’ve entered a time in your life where there are several potential paths available to you. However, sorting everything out and knowing which way to go can be confusing, to say the least.
So, you’ve decided that the time is right to enlist the help of a coach.
But, what traits should you be looking for in a professional life coach? Are there qualities that are more important than others?
Choosing a coach is an important decision, and you want to get this one right.
Here are eight essential traits to look for in a life coach.
1. Relatable
Your life coach should be someone you can relate to and connect with. It does you no good to attend coaching sessions with someone you’re completely disconnected from. You won’t make any progress and only feel that you are wasting both time and money.
2. Good Listener
Next, your coach ought to have superb listening skills. Knowing that your coach is both listening and hearing you is important if you want to make progress. If you notice that your coach has a tendency to talk over you, that could be a sign that you are not a good fit.
3. Supportive Tone
A necessary quality of any life coach is setting a supportive tone during coaching sessions. You should feel free and safe to talk about whatever is on your mind and know you won’t be judged for it. Otherwise, how else can you expect to be vulnerable with your coach, when you don’t feel supported?
4. Structured Sessions
A good life coach will be able to create structure for the coaching sessions. This is important because you only have a finite amount of time with your coach. Thus, you both will want to be using your time efficiently to address your issues. Remember, though, you don’t have to cover all the territory you need to in one session.
5. Knowledgeable in Current Methods
As with a professional in any field, your life coach should be current with trends and methods for the coaching industry. When researching a potential life coach, ask whether they belong to any professional associations. Membership in such groups implies that they meet certain criteria and standards and that they are invested in continuing their professional education.
6. Creative
It helps to have a creative streak when working in the coaching profession. This doesn’t mean being an artist. Rather, your coach ought to be able to have an “out of the box” perspective when working with you. This is really helpful because it allows you to approach situations from angles that you may have never thought of before.
7. Sense of Humor
Who wants to spend time with someone who is doesn’t have a sense of humor? Even though coaching is a serious profession, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fun. After all, life shouldn’t be a drag, why would you accept that from your coaching sessions?
8. Not Having (or Giving) All the Answers
If you’re expecting to jump into a coaching session with the belief your coach has all the answers, you’ll be disappointed. In fact, your coach isn’t supposed to have the answers at all. Rather, their role is to be a guide and work with you so that you can discover those answers for yourself. It’s an empowering approach that allows for collaboration.
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As you can see, a professional life coach must wear many hats. You can learn a lot about a coach, their philosophy, and areas of specialty from reviewing their website and reading online reviews. When you do your research keep the above-mentioned eight traits in mind so that you can find the right coach.
However, the best way to know if your life coach will be a good fit for you is to schedule a trial session or an introductory phone call. Please, contact me today, and let’s talk!