Coaching provides you with confidential space in which you can explore your thinking, become clearer on the outcomes you wish to achieve, identify the things that might be getting in your way and discuss the practicalities of ‘how to’ move forward.

At The Leadership School we believe that the most effective coaching takes place when a coachee feels safe to explore their thinking in an unfiltered and honest way, is able to commit time and energy to each coaching session and when they are clear on what they want to achieve.

This means that it is important to find a coach who is right for you; so that together you can build a relationship based on trust, mutual respect and honesty.

So – where to start?!

This handy guide of 'five steps to follow' seeks to help you through the process; so that you can select the coach you feel most comfortable to work with at this time.

1.Think about what you might want to use your coaching sessions for.

You may want to commission a coach to help you:

On a personal work level. For example, to develop your leadership style, identify your values, gain confidence, build better relationships, lead a team or consider your career.

Or

On a more holistic life level. For example, to identify life goals with your partner, consider the lifestyle you want and identify how to re-organise your life to get there.

Being clear about this from the start will help you with your choice of coach.

2. Do some homework

Unfortunately the world of coaching is largely unregulated and so it is important to complete some research before you commission a coach to work with you. Have a think about whether it is important to you that your coach has:

A recognised coaching qualification - such as from a Business School, University or a professional coaching body like the International Coaching Federation (ICF) or the Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision (APECS). All qualified coaches are bound by professional integrity rules that include confidentiality and a commitment to supervision and continuous professional development (see below).

Membership of a professional body - such as those mentioned above and/or the British Psychological Society (BPS) or The Association for Coaching (AC). Professional bodies provide codes of conduct that they expect their members to follow.

A Continuous Professional Development (CPD) plan that they complete on an ongoing basis; which continues to stretch and develop them as a coach and ensures that the quality of their coaching continues to progress.

Industry specific knowledge or experience. Some coaches have vast experience in a particular industry (such as Legal, Engineering or Finance)and it may be important to you that they understand the industry that you are working within.

Been personally recommended to you by someone you trust. This is always a useful approach although it may not necessarily be the case that a coach who is right for someone else will automatically be right for you.

Examples of the qualifications, memberships and industry knowledge of The Leadership School coaches can be found here.

3. Begin to look for the right coach for you.

With your notes and thoughts in hand – start talking to colleagues in other organisations, check out coaches in your own local area and use your network to find out who other people are using and who they might recommend.

Once you have a few names; look at their websites and online profiles (such as LinkedIn) so that you can get a feel for who they are, how they work and what they offer.

This information should be available on a coach’s website. If not – ask them!

4. Request an informal, no-commitment chemistry meeting.

Before you commission your coach it is important to meet up with them and see if you feel that you are a good ‘fit’ for each other. Book a meeting together (either in person, by telephone or via a zoom, skype/video call) so that you can get to know each other a little.

During this meeting you can ask them to talk you through their fees and ask them to describe how they typically work with their coachees to build mutual trust. Notice how well you feel they are truly listening to you and how interested they are in genuinely understanding your need.

You will quickly get a sense of whether or not you feel that this is the right coach for you!

5. Consider where you might want to hold your coaching sessions.

It is important that you feel safe and comfortable within the coaching sessions and so it may be beneficial for the sessions to be held away from your normal working environment in an appropriate meeting room or venue. Options for this can be discussed with your coach and could include…

• Using off-site offices of the organisation that you work for

• Using offices of a partner organisation (eg: accountant, marketing agency, legal firm)

• Outdoors (eg: in a park or woodland)

• In a hired venue (eg: meeting rooms)

• Telephone coaching

• Zoom/skype/facetime/webex coaching

  At The Leadership School we don’t recommend that coaching sessions take place in public venues (such as cafes)

We hope that you have found these suggested steps useful. If you would like to chat any of the steps through, or if you would like to see profiles of The Leadership School coaches, please drop us an email or give us a call;

Email: hello@theleadershipschool.co.uk

Phone: 0117 251 0155 or 07919 887619

Twitter: space4thinking