Life can throw a lot of obstacles in your path, whether it be a stressful event, tiredness, or even something like a lack of foundational organizational skills. These obstacles can be even more frustrating when they get in the way of your goals. The guidance of a life coach may be just what you need to gain the skills, motivation, and resources to reach your goals.
What Is a Life Coach?
Though they are sometimes confused with therapists, life coaches are more goal-oriented. Their services are centered on creating lasting solutions by fostering life skills, helping create stronger executive functioning, and building motivation. Life coaches are not licensed medical professionals and cannot treat or diagnose mental illness or prescribe medication. Instead, they can help you develop strategies to focus and accomplish goals.
How Do You Find a Life Coach?
The process of finding a life coach doesn’t have to be challenging—you just need to know where to start. Look for someone you trust to understand your values and goals and work with you to implement strategies designed to meet your abilities. Below are some steps to help you find a life coach and evaluate your options along the way.
1. Broaden Your Search
Limiting your search to a small radius may cause you to miss out on the perfect coach. Many life coaches offer phone and virtual services, so don’t be afraid to look beyond your ZIP code.
2. Look for Free Discovery Calls
Many life coaches offer a free discovery call that can give both of you an opportunity to assess one another. During this call, they might ask you to fill out a questionnaire to detail your goals and what you expect from a life coach. You’ll have the chance to ask numerous questions about the coaching process. These discussions will assist you in determining if a candidate is the right fit for you. Reflect on your feelings regarding the interaction and their professional insights about their capability to address your requirements. Some individuals thrive with a coach who encourages growth through collaboration and feedback, while others might prefer a coach who is stricter and more task-driven.
3. Ask About Their Coaching Style and Methodologies
You may already have a good sense of what kind of coach would be good for you, potentially due to a past experience. Perhaps your favorite teacher incorporated a lot of self-guided projects, or a former boss was good at keeping you motivated. If so, you may want a life coach who enlists the same coaching style. Verify with candidates what their approach is. Ask them what methodologies and tools they will use to help you. Will all the coaching be done directly with them? Or do they offer additional tools to use on your own?
4. Know Your Budget
Consider the upfront fees and what is included in that amount. Ask whether the coach offers access to additional staff or resources for support. The hourly cost of life coaching can vary considerably so it is essential to know ahead of time what you can afford. If the coach offers additional workshops and programs, think about whether you want to budget for those as well.
5. Read Reviews
Some people find their life coach through word of mouth from a friend or colleague. But if you’re not receiving any recommendations from your circle, reviews are a great place to learn more about a life coach. If you see a lot of reviews referencing goals or concerns that are similar to yours, then this coach is likely to be a good fit. On the other hand, look for consistency in bad reviews, such as multiple clients experiencing the same issue. The occasional negative review is common with any business, but consistency between negative reviews is harder to discount.
Ultimately, finding a life coach will be a different journey for each person. When you decide that hiring a life coach is the next step for you, think about what you want to achieve and what it’ll take to get you there. Goal-oriented executive function coaching can provide you with the strategies that help you feel better equipped to take on the world.
