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Claim your Purposeful Life

Living a purposeful life is not just for a select few, and it doesnt happen accidentally. Coaching first helps people explore what matters to them and then shape their lives to live with passion and purpose.
You’re moving through your life without any major breakdowns. In the back of your mind, though, you’re wondering how much better you might do with the help of a coach.  But you’ve made it this far on your own.  And yet, you’re sure you haven’t tapped your full potential. You want to reassess your future and get unstuck. So you’re considering a coach.

A coach helps you avoid the drain of indecision. The numbers of people getting unstuck with a coach have risen dramatically over the last two decades and continue to grow. Having a coach is similar in some ways to having a personal trainer.

If you're looking for a coach, The Inventure Group offers advice on determining if a coach is right for you and, if so, how to go about finding the right coach.  To learn more about working with an Inventure certified coach, contact us at info@inventuregroup.com or at 952-249-5222.  Click here to discover self-coaching starters that direct individuals in their efforts to improve certain areas of their work and life.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is not giving advice.  It is not therapy.  It is not dissecting your past; it’s about creating your future.  A coach establishes a trusting relationship over a period of time with a person who wants things to be different in their lives.  The bottom line is change.

Why do people hire coaches?  Because they know that to move to the next level in their life they’ve got to take risks and a coach makes risking easier. A coach gives you a clear change framework and can help you see things about you that you can’t.

Three Steps for Finding a Coach

So how do you shop for a coach? Here are three steps for looking for a coach that should make the process easier and in the end help you find a competent coach who’s right for you.

Step 1: Get Referrals

Don’t just hire the first coach who crosses your path.  Get referrals from friends who have successfully worked with one.  There are approximately 10,000 certified coaches of various types working across the country, so finding one shouldn’t be too hard.  But finding one who fits your specific needs takes a little work.  Pick a coach with solid ethics and credentials.  It is critical that all coaches, regardless of specialty or setting,
have a written ethics statement.  A number of certifying bodies are out there, most of which provide specialized training to their coaches.  If you can’t get a referral, do your own research.  There are several services to help you find a coach.  One way to help you get your search started is The International Coach Federation’s Coach Referral Resource at www.coachfederation.com. This resource lists coaches by background, competencies, expertise and focus area.  

Step 2: Get Specialized

Check out your coach’s specialty!  Nothing else matters if you don’t follow this rule.  No matter how highly recommended a coach comes, if you don’t check out your coach’s specialty, you’re courting serious disappointment.  What should you ask first in evaluating a coach?  “What do you specialize in?  What are you best at?”  Good coaches specialize.  There are many coaches who appear to be successful but who, in fact, are nothing more than good salespeople.  There’s one way to protect yourself against this sort of thing—do your homework!  Always ask the coach about his or her specialty.  A serious professional should have no trouble explaining his or her specialty simply and clearly.  If your coach can’t do that, take your business elsewhere.  Get the right coach for your specific challenge.

Step 3: Get Going

Set up a session.  Once you’ve narrowed your choice, make an appointment with the coach.  Remember you’re doing the selecting, so don’t be afraid to ask such questions as: What is your coaching specialty?  How long have you been coaching people with my needs?  How long have you been certified?  Where were you certified?  Can I see your statement of ethics?  Do you mind if I talk to a few people you have coached?  Coaching choice revolves around a single issue:  trust.  What is trust?  It simply refers to the fact that you have been provided enough information about your coach so that you can make an informed decision about whether to enter into a coaching relationship.

How do you select a coach?
Select a coach who is professionally trained and ask them the following questions:
  1. What are your qualifications? Education? Training? Experience?
  2. What is your coaching philosophy and what techniques do you use?
  3. What are the typical challenges of your clients? What are their life experiences and how have you helped them? Do you have references I can contact?
  4. What services do you offer?
  5. What are your fees and billing policies?
  6. What is my time commitment and degree of involvement?
  7. Will you help me set goals and evaluate my progress?
  8. What is your code of ethics?
  9. Will we have a written agreement?
  10. Can I terminate our relationship at any time?