Hiring a Coach: What’s Love Got to Do with It?

When American singer Tina Turner released “What’s Love Got to Do with It” in 1984, she couldn’t have imagined this hit song could take on so many meanings and complexities.

Today, I’m taking poetic license in using her phrase, “What’s love got to do with it” to describe a perspective someone could take when looking to hire a coach.

Love Has EVERYTHING to Do with It

• Loving yourself to consider having someone in your corner as you think about next steps in your career.
• Loving yourself in understanding that hiring the right coach will be one of the biggest decisions you will make in your professional career, because having the right coach guiding you lays the foundation for the entire coaching process.
• Loving yourself in knowing that the right coach is out there and it’s YOUR responsibility to find that person.

Different Paths

In searching for a coach, you might want to consider several avenues:

1. Perform a search through the ICF Credentialed Coach Finder.
2. Speak to friends and colleagues who may have worked with coaches or know coaches who they highly recommend.
3. Search the Internet: Go to Google and enter in what type of coach you are looking for, such as career, business or executive coach, etc. If you find someone of interest, carefully read through their website and social media pages.

Qualifications

1. Think about what you want to achieve with the coaching process. This will help you focus on the questions you want to ask a potential coach, and whether they meet the qualifications that will help you succeed with your coaching.
2. Set up a conversation with those coaches that you feel you are aligned with.
3. Prepare a list of questions, perhaps questions that didn’t get answered from their website and some unexpected questions that might reveal something about them.
4. Review their website in detail to see how they coach and what their clients are saying about them in their testimonial area. The more you know, the easier the conversation will go.
5. Ask about the coach’s credentials during the interviewing process in case you didn’t find them on their website. For example, are they members of ICF; have they earned an ICF Credential; how long have they been coaching?
6. Inquire about the coaching program they offer: how long, how many sessions and the cost. Do they offer anything in addition to coaching (for example, the opportunity to email between sessions)?

The Most Important Ingredient: Chemistry

1. How do you feel talking to this prospective coach? Do you feel that you are both in alignment and what they say resonates with you?
2. Do you feel confident that you can open up and be vulnerable with this person, be willing to be challenged and guided by this person, to help you achieve the results you want?
3. Have they taken the time to answer your questions and concerns authentically?

Once you have completed your research, connected and interviewed the top few, and made your selection, the next step is saying YES! Coaching is about stepping out of your comfort zone and being willing to step into new terrain. That takes courage and loving yourself for your willingness to be vulnerable as you embark on this journey.  Just remember, when fear or doubt creeps in, I invite you to remember Tina Turner’s words:
“What’s Love Got to Do with It?”

Then remind yourself EVERYTHING!