Seeking a professional coach is different from becoming part of a mastermind group because with the right professional coach, you are getting a customized plan of action designed just for you.  You’re hiring someone specifically motivated to help you. And they have the experience and knowledge to help you take your career and business to the next level. 

Finding the right coach for you can be overwhelming.  Here are five tips to get you headed in the right direction:

1. Ask friends, family, and associates in your field if they know any professional coaches that they can recommend.  This is a great way to find a great coach but you already have a built in referral which is really important when hiring a coach.  You don’t want to hire someone whose personality clashes with your own or who doesn’t understand your business goals or chosen profession.
2. If your community of friends, family and associates are not able to provide you with a list of potential coaches, consider looking online.  There are several professional coaching associations and organizations that provide geographic listings or you can visit your favorite search engine and conduct a local search by including your city in the search phrase like this:  “Professional coach”  “Manhattan”.
3. Contact coaches and inquire about rates and their general suggested meeting frequency.  It is important to get a general feel for each coach’s policies and procedures to determine if they will meet your budget and time constraints.
4. Once you have a list of potential coaches, three to five, contact them and request references.  Contact the references!  This is important.  You want to speak with real people and get a real life sense of how the coach was able to help them reach their goals.
5. Final task when deciding on a professional coach is to schedule a time to meet so that you can ask them some questions and determine if your personalities match.  Be sure to prepare some questions ahead of time so that you don’t forget anything that you feel is important to you.  You can and should ask each coach about their background both as a coach and prior to becoming a coach.  You’ll also want to make sure that you understand their coaching approach and make sure that it works for you.  Lastly, make sure that your coach is someone that you respect and can take advice from. 

When weighing the decision to hire a personal or professional coach don’t forget to take educational opportunities into consideration.  Two of the major factors that contribute to your personal and professional success are your motivation and your commitment to personal development, or your continued investment in developing your skills and education.  By hiring a coach that can provide both, you’re getting the best of both worlds and you’re getting a specialized plan for success.

One benefit that is often overlooked when considering a personal or professional coach is that some coaches offer trainings, workshops, and seminars.  The benefit to this kind of education is that your coach not only has your best interests at heart but they’re offering up a core of knowledge that is designed specifically to help you succeed.  A personal coach understands your priorities, goals, and skill levels.

There is a tremendous benefit to finding a personal coach that offers on-line trainings and workshops because you know your coach and your coach knows you.  Your coach knows your needs and goals.  They are able to guide you to take the most appropriate trainings for your needs; saving you time and money and ensuring that you’re getting the information that you need to further your career and better yourself. 

Also, your coach may be able to customize courses based on your needs.  You won’t find that kind of customization and understanding anywhere else.  Additionally, if you have questions, concerns, or just want to spend extra time learning a certain skill then your coach knows exactly how to help you because they not only understand you and your goals but they have a solid understanding of the course material that you’ve taken. 

In a world where knowledge is power and the ability to succeed depends largely on your investment in your own personal development, a personal coach that offers educational opportunities is a smart way to go.  You’re not just investing in a motivator and guide; you’re investing in someone who can offer a specialized education designed to fit your education needs, goals, time limitations, and so much more. 

Your coach has your best interests at heart and the focus is entirely on you and achieving your goals. 

You can take a look at my coaching services at Scrap Venture Coaching & Scrap Venture Profits.