We’ve all heard the scary stories. A fellow entrepreneur or friend in the biz signed up to work with a coach (life, health, business, you-name-it) and were totally sold … only to find out the perceived value had no results to back it up.

I remember one of the first stories I heard (and man, it made my blood boil as a fellow coach!). A friend of mine had signed up for six months with a woman she met online. She was in that place in her business that we all know too well: ready to learn, ready to take her business up a notch, and looking for some support to help fill in the blanks.

Quickly she realized that the advertised “weekly phone call” was only 15 minutes long. The “one-on-one help between meetings” meant one email sent from her to her coach outlining the homework she’d done. The “personalized business advice” was cookie cutter recommendations that could apply to any business, but didn’t apply to hers. And she was stuck with this coach for another five months. Yech.

So how can you tell before you sign the contract and send your money along? How can you be sure that the person you’re working with is the real deal? Here are a few things to look out for:

#1) They offer a consult call

It is so, so very important that the coach you’re working with has taken the time to talk to you first. You want this call to accomplish a few things: Establish whether or not they’d be someone you’d want to work with. Make sure they’re listening to you and making a plan for what you want to accomplish for your business. Get a clear understanding of what you can expect and what they have to offer.

#2) They cover the details in either a coaching agreement or contract

My contract describes the number of meetings, how often they will be held, what type of contact occurs in-between, etc. It’s all there (and it’s written out exactly on my website!) to give a clear understanding of what I have to do to hold up my end of the bargain.

#3) They seem like someone you’d like

Yup, this literal. How much do you know about this coach? Have you poured through their website, nodding along to every word? Do they tell you about themselves in an open and vulnerable manner? Do they feel genuine and authentic? Do they inspire you? Look at their website, look at their social media, see what people say about them and ask yourself if you think you’d enjoy hanging out with them. If the answer isn’t a clear yes, it’s a definite no.

Have you had any red flags pop up when working with a fellow professional? Share in the comments below, or join the party on my Instagram and share there: https://www.instagram.com/katrina.widener/

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And when you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you:

• Start your journey with self discovery and goal setting.

• Take the next step with one-on-one life and business coaching.

• Be challenged, inspired, and supported through a group coaching experience.