How
to Choose a Competent Coach
Dear
Associate,
"You've
got to step outside your box. Get uncomfortable. Do this one
thing and see what kind of responses you get."
Those
were some tough words from Paul Cook, a speaking coach I worked
with recently. He had spent some time working with the Ken
Blanchard (One Minute Manager) people and is himself a student
of self-development.
He
continued, "You may think this isn't really you. That
you're acting a bit. And that's okay. You've got to do this
to stretch yourself. You'll thank me later."
But
it seems so tough to stretch. So unnatural. So foreign. It's
a lot easier to bypass stretching. To stay where I am. To
avoid the hard work and discipline. To stay on the path of
least resistance.
He
concluded, "You won't hear me repeating this again. You
either get it—or you don't. You'll either do it—or
you won't. Besides, this is only a baby step. If you don't
do this, how will you ever take the bigger steps without falling
down?"
What
causes me great angst about some of these coaches is: You
know they're right. You've heard this stuff before. And yet,
once in a blue moon, you get one who challenges you to do
what you know. He calls you on your stuff. Then he leaves
you alone to figure out how to do it.
Wow!
What Paul gave me was a simple strategy, but it was a lot
to absorb. I have to risk looking silly for the sake of expanding
my abilities.
But
isn't that what a competent coach should do for you? To get
you to expand your thinking? And then having you act upon
your new thoughts?
In
general—there are two types of coaches:
One
will listen to you and make suggestions. The other makes suggestions
and you'd better listen. I'm sure you'd agree Paul Cook belongs
to the latter.
Let's
examine some key elements when you're searching for a competent
coach:
1)
You like and respect her. Having years of experience is
not enough. If you sense she's lukewarm and distant, you won't
be on fire to take her advice. And watch out for those who
have a movie star complex. You're paying them to make you
the star—not vice versa.
2)
Positive results testimonies. There are too many client
testimonials that really say nothing. "I've always enjoyed
our sessions," and "You are a cut above the rest,"
have no teeth. Remember: results are key when establishing
a coach's credibility.
3)
Has the knowledge and experience. You wouldn't want to
hire a teenager to teach you how to drive. The same holds
true when hiring a coach. You'd want someone who's been there
through the thick and thin so she can show you how to get
to the promised land sooner.
4)
Does he instruct from the gut? Can he sense your errors
and point them out off-the-cuff? If so, you know he practices
what he preaches. You won't need him to provide degrees or
certificates to prove he's capable of instructing you.
5)
A master at her craft. If she's not making a living from
her expertise, then she is not qualified to become your coach.
Coaching is an extension of one's expertise, not the result
of it. She doesn't have to be the best in her field—she
just has to be good at teaching it.
A
wise coach will lead you to your own understanding. It's true.
But sometimes that takes too long and a shortcut is better.
Whatever the case—choose your coach wisely.
Warm
regards,
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