How to Choose a Life Coach
Posted by alisamaeirepstein on 2007-12-02 in coaching, success, fulfillment, professionalism, training, Jerusalem
HOW TO CHOOSE A LIFE COACH
Life Coaching is a new exciting approach which facilitates personal success and fulfillment by utilizing and strengthening strategies and resources which the client brings to the process. Success, of course, according to your own values, priorities and dreams!
Choosing the appropriate life coach is pertinent to the process. A coach's professional training, coaching experience, areas of specialization, general background, credibility, ethical stature, fees, and even chemistry with you, are all important when you choose your coach.
WHEN CHOOSING A LIFE COACH, FOLLOW THE SIMPLE GUIDELINES BELOW:
* Warning: The field of life coaching is just at the beginning of it's process of professionalization in Israel. It is a field which demands standards, certification and legal backing, just like other professions - psychology, engineering, etc. Unfortunately, at this point, the trendy word "coach" may legally be used by anyone, including those who have not yet completed their training or those who are counselors/advisors/consultants/workshop leaders, but not trained coaches.
Guidelines for choosing a life coach:
INITIAL CONTACT
1. Contact the prospective coach by phone or email and present yourself. A trained coach can tell you, in general, if life-coaching suits your situation.
2. Ask a few basic questions about the coach's training, experience, area of specialization, fee and background.
EXPLORATORY MEETING
1. Take advance of the fact that most coaches are happy to meet without a fee for an exploratory first meeting. You might meet with more than one candidate. The objective of such a meeting is determining if life coaching is right the step for you and if the coach is the right coach for you. You'll also want to clarify expectations on both sides.
2. Be clear about what you want to accomplish and what are the results you desire of the coaching relationship - make a list or write out a short description, before hand, if you can.
3. Meet at the coach's office so that you can determine if the environment/accessibility is suitable for you.
4. Find out about the following:
* Life coaching training (see NOTE 1 below)
* Coaching experience (see NOTE 2 below)
* Coaching specialties
* Background and other work experience
* Approximate duration of the coaching relationship
* Description of the coaching method (see NOTE 3 below)
*General review of what you will actually do during the coaching process
* fees - what services do you get for the fee? Different coaches work in different ways (face to face meetings of different lengths, phone calls and emails, etc.)
*Confidentiality - Does the level of confidentially, as presented by the coach, suit your needs?
5. Other possibilities:
*Ask to speak to 2 -3 clients for recommendations.
*If you need to, take notes at the exploratory meetings so you can review them at home.
*Don't feel pressured or compelled to make your decision about the coach at the meeting. Take a few days to think about it.
Notes:
NOTE #1: ABOUT TRAINING
There are many good coaching courses on the market. This rigorous advice helps you be sure that you will get a professional coach, though it might exclude some worthy courses, in the attempt to create criteria which the public can easily follow. You can be sure that you are getting a trained professional coach if she or he is:
* A member of one of the 2 professional coaching associations in Israel (Lishkat Ha' MeAmnim - www.coachinstitute.org.il or the Israel Coaching Association - www.coaching.org.il)
* or - A member of the ICF - International Coaching Federation (www.coachfederation.org)
* or - completed a course recognized by the one of the 2 coaching associations in Israel, or by the ICF.
* or - Completed training and certified by one of the larger international training organizations (such as CIT - www.thecoaches.com, or other organizations)
* or - Completed a training course at one of the academic institutions in Israel.
NOTE #2: ABOUT EXPERIENCE
An experienced coach is someone who has completed coaching at least 10 different clients. A beginner coach might seem like a risk, though she or he might charge you a lower fee, be enthusiastic and patient and devoted to your meetings.
NOTE #3: ON COACHING METHOD
Check what methods your life coach uses. Methods taught in training courses are the recommended ones. You want to be sure that your chosen coach utilizes recognized life coaching methods when working with you.
PLEASE FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH QUESTIONS AND QUERIES:
Alisa Maeir Epstein
Master Life-Coach Israel
Master Life-Coach Israel
coach@maeir.com
054-5872260
054-5872260
Jerusalem, Israel
