Choosing a reliable and suitable Life Coach

Anyone who is thinking about using a Life Coach should spend some time doing a little research in order to find the right one. Here are some tips that I have put together that should help to simplify your search:

• The very best way of finding a good Life Coach is the same as finding a good plumber or electrician - ask your friends, neighbours or colleagues to recommend someone. Get the benefit of someone else's experience whether good or bad as personal recommendations are like gold dust.
• If you are searching the internet look out for the word on the street via blog sites or Twitter to see what Coaches are saying and who is saying what about the Coaches!
• Always check out the credentials of any Coach. Find out if they have studied and qualified through a reputable establishment and what experience they have had.
• Recent testimonials are a useful guide but if you are at all unsure ask if you can speak to a recently satisfied customer to get their perspective at first hand.
• Check that your Coach has current membership of a Professional Body such as the Association for Coaching. Any professional body will require practising Coaches to keep their professional development and industry knowledge up to date, and will have a strict Code of Ethics and Practice which members must adhere to. This is likely to include having the correct insurances.
• Find out the range of coaching methods and options that are available. Is the Coach able to offer sessions at a time that is practicable?
• It is also important to check out what packages are on offer and exactly what you will get for the fee. Does the Coach offer support in between sessions by email or provide a written review that you can reflect upon at your leisure?
• Does the Coach offer a free taster session so you can try out Coaching, or offer an informal "getting to know you" meeting where you can both decide if you would like to work together?
• Finally, beware of building up a dependancy upon any Coach. Make sure the Coach will review the relationship and your progress on a regular basis and don't commit to a never ending stream of sessions. You must both be clear where progress is being made and if you feel that the Coaching is not working for you a reputable Coach will be only too pleased to offer alternatives.

If you want to know more about Life Coaching, see www.blueskylife.co.uk