There is a new job description out there, one that probably wasn\’t around when your grandfather was crafting his career: life coach. What exactly is a life coach, and why would you need one? First of all, the term is somewhat fluid. You can call it what you will, but a life coach, mentor, personal consultant, etc. is someone who helps you with some aspect of your life that you can\’t quite see clearly and helps you get and stay on track. Your goals could be primarily business related, clearing up some personal problems, or helping you be more creative, what matters is that you have an outside opinion on how to capitalize on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. Sure, you could maybe ask a close friend to be your coach, but would they really have the time to do it right? And the fact that money changes hands makes your life coach invested in seeing you succeed…after all, successful clients will help their business in turn. So how do you go about finding one?
Personality Matters
Most of the time, it is going to be of utmost importance that you click with whomever you choose to be your coach. So make sure to read through their website carefully and if possible schedule a real-time interview with them, either face-to-face if they happen to be in your area or through Skype. You are looking for someone you can trust and whose opinions and advice you will respect.
Certified or Not Certified?
There are certified life coaches out there, and finding one of these may be something that is important to you. Obviously it gives them a layer of credibility, but if you have found someone you like and have done some due diligence on them (see next point), then you don\’t necessarily have to be scared off by a lack of certification. There are so many self-made online businesses out there that involve coaching and helping people (you may have one yourself) that the concept of certification starts to seem a little outdated. That being said, make sure to do as much research as you can on this person and pay close attention to any red flags.
Ask for References
The person you are considering hiring more than likely has testimonials from satisfied clients on their website. Try to actually talk to some of these and ask them any questions you need to to feel comfortable with your choice. Find out what they got out of working with this coach and whether or not they would do it again.
Find Out What You\’ll Be Getting
What does the coaching package include? Try to steer clear of any packages that require a long-term commitment and lots of money up front. Ideally you would be able to obtain a free consultation with your coach of choice, but if that\’s not possible, at least give yourself an out and don\’t over-commit yourself in case this person turns out to be not who you thought they were. (It is the Internet, after all.)
A life coach is one of those professions that have been made possible by the Internet. In the past, the odds of finding a mentor or coach ideally suited to your personality, goals, and needs in your immediate vicinity was remote, and now they don\’t have to be. If you\’ve never considered hiring a life coach before, consider it. It could be just the boost you need to catapult your business and your life to the top.