Knowing what to look for also means knowing what to watch out for.
Selecting a Coach
Coaching is an unregulated industry. Anyone can call themselves a coach, put up a website, and start taking clients. That’s worth knowing before you start looking.
The first thing to look for is proper training and credentials from a reputable organization. A Certified Professional Coach has met a defined standard. The International Coach Federation sets the bar globally, and ICF membership means committing to a genuine code of ethics, not just a credential on a wall. That matters.
Be cautious of anyone making big promises. Meaningful change takes time and real work, and a qualified coach knows that. Guarantees of transformation or dramatic results in a short timeframe say more about the sales approach than the ability to actually help you.
Ask whether your coach is committed to their own ongoing development through continued formal training. And whether they have a coach themselves. A coach who believes in the value of this work has a coach. It’s a simple question and a telling one.
And then there’s fit. Credentials matter, but so does the person. You need to feel comfortable enough to be honest, which means the rapport has to be real. Most coaches offer an initial consultation for exactly this reason. Use it.
If you want to find out whether this is the right fit, that’s what the discovery call is for. No pitch, no pressure. Just a chance to talk through where you are and whether working together makes sense.
