Most people who have worked with a life coach often attest it is one of the best investments they have ever made. And this is not exactly surprising. For starters, life coaches provide a framework and a safe environment where clients can face their biggest fears and make their grandest dreams happen.

However, there is one coaching aspect many clients find challenging: finding the best life coach to work with. In other words, it does not always follow that the life coach your friend or colleague swears by is also the right one for you.

So how exactly do you find the best life coach for you? The following tips can help get your search efforts off to a promising start:

Take advantage of free consultations

Most coaches provide free consultations to help clients gauge if they are the right fit. Consultations are also seen as the ideal venue where clients can ask questions and learn more about a prospective coach. Consultations can last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.

While coaches have diverse ways of conducting initial consultations, most focus on some key aspects like getting to know the client, gaining a clear understanding of the client’s needs, and finding out what it is that the client wants to achieve. If you feel uncertain about the coach after the initial consultation, take that as your cue to continue searching.

Find a coach whose personality does not clash with yours

Oftentimes, this can be apparent in the initial conversation. Did you frequently interrupt each other? Did you feel like you just can’t get on the same wavelength? If so, consider it best to keep looking. Ideally, your chosen life coach should be someone you can open up to like a dear and trusted friend. At the same time, your life coach should also act professional by setting and maintaining clear boundaries.

If during the initial consultation you felt like talking to a good friend over a cup of hot cocoa, you may have found the one. Keep in mind that at one point or another, you will feel raw and vulnerable during coaching sessions so it is important to have someone you totally trust. When interviewing prospective coaches, look for one who will not only challenge you to grow but will also make you feel safe.

Choose a life coach who specializes in the help you need

What area of your life do you need help and guidance with? Do you have a relationship that’s filled with drama? Do you constantly fight with your significant other over the most trivial of matters? Do you want to take that next step in your career but don’t know how or where to begin? Do you want to pursue a passion but just can’t find the courage to act?

The type of changes you would like to make should help you figure out the best coach to work with. Coaching specialties include business, career, retirement, relationships, general life coaching, health and wellness, etc. Your chosen coach should be able to tell you what they do, how they can help you, and the methods they will use to help you out.

If the coach hypes up what they can do by telling you they can help you triple your income, make all your dreams come true, and marry a model, run away. As a general rule of thumb, you should work with someone who will not only be able to give clear answers but can also provide realistic projections of the progress you will be making.

Also, from the very start, it should be clear that your coach will not be able to make things happen like magic. While they can offer expert guidance and help, nothing will happen if you don’t put in the work.

 

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