Coaching relationships have become increasingly popular in recent years as more and more individuals and organisation recognise the value of developing leadership skills and enhancing personal and professional growth.  A good coaching relationship can provide support, guidance and accountability, helping individuals to achieve their full potential.  At The Thrive Team we offer coaching on a range of topics including:

• Transitional coaching
• Leadership coaching
• Mental Toughness coaching
• Career coaching
• Wellbeing coaching (coming soon)

We share 6 key considerations in a coaching relationship.

6 Coaching Considerations

1. Compatibility

Ensure that you are comfortable working with the coach and that their approach aligns with your goals and values.  We always recommend having a brief meeting in person or virtually (we call it a ‘chemistry session’) to make sure you ‘click’ with your coach.  All our coaches offer the opportunity of an informal discussion to check if you’re right for each other.

Consider asking:

• What are your key values?
• How will you know if I’m the right client for you?

2. Expertise

Look for a coach who has relevant coaching experience and knowledge in the area you want to work on.

Consider asking:

• Are they a certified coach?
• Are they accredited as a coach by and organisation such as EMCC, ICF, Association for Coaching etc?
• How many years’ experience do they have as a coach?
• Do they have coaching supervision or are they mentored by another coach?

3. Communication Style

The coach should have effective communication skills and be able to articulate their ideas and feedback clearly.

Consider asking:

• What’s your preferred coaching style?
• What contact would we have in between coaching sessions?

4. Results

Consider the coach’s track record and ask for reference to see how they have helped others.

Consider asking:

• When and how do you evaluate progress?
• Do they have coaching testimonials they can share with you?
• Do they have past/current coaching clients that you can speak to?

5. Flexibility

A good coach should be adaptable and adjust their approach to fit your unique needs and situation.

Consider asking:

• How can you help me?
• What makes you different from other coaches?

6. Trust

Building trust is essential in a coaching relationship, so look for a coach who is transparent, ethical and professional.  Consider whether the coach’s fees are consistent with their skill level and check whether there are any additional costs (e.g. for psychometric assessments or mileage and other expenses for face to face meetings).  Your coach should be happy to share their accrediting body’s code of ethics if you ask and would usually provide you with a coaching contract that details expectations of you as a coachee and what you can expect of them as a coach.  Being transparent about expectations can help to build trust.

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Ultimately the most important thing is finding a coach who you feel comfortable with and who can help you achieve your goals.  At The Thrive Team we have a fabulous team of coaches with a wide range of experience so we’re sure to have a coach that’s right for you.

If you’d like to speak to us or find out more about how we could support your or your business, get in touch here. We’d love to hear from you.