What to Look for in a Life Coach
Working with a life coach can literally change your life — I know it did for me, and I’ve seen it happen with my clients. But if you’re not working with the right person, or are struggling feeling like you’re on the same page as your coach, it can be a struggle instead. It’s so important that your coach is someone you trust and respect, and has your best interests at heart. Here are some of the top things to look for when finding the right life coach for you:
1) They offer a free consult or session.
The number one most important thing to find in your coach is a true, authentic connection. If you’re going to be open, honest, and vulnerable with them about all areas of your life, you’re going to need to trust them. And if you don’t have that initial way to touch base before you pay an invoice, you’ll never know if that connection is there. You want to vibe with them, and have them vibe with you! This raises the stakes for both of you. You’ll have someone you won’t want to let down, who you feel comfortable and respected with. And they’ll have a client they want to see succeed, and will do whatever they can to help you get there.
2) They have true, real testimonials on their website.
If your coach doesn’t have any testimonials, or only list one, this means one of a few things: 1) They’re brand new and should be charging as such, or 2) they’re simply not providing clients with a good experience. Either way, this is something to be wary of. You’re going to want to see what they’ve been able to help clients accomplish so you know they’ll be able to help you accomplish your goals as well.
3) They haven’t niched down to a specific audience.
As a life coach, I technically have the ability to help anyone with anything. Relationship woes, career choices, family relationships, etc. BUT I have devoted my training to helping entrepreneurs. I take courses on marketing techniques and materials, educate myself on confidence and mindset, read books, listen to podcasts, and really devote myself to providing the best experience I possibly can to my clients. And the only reason why I’m able to get so specific and go so deep on a topic is because I narrowed my focus. I can help you with other issues, but I have the most knowledge and experience on my one topic. Working with a master-of-all means you get a little bit of experience in every area, not deep knowledge in the one you’re seeking help on.
4) They don’t cater their experience to their client.
This might be the one I see the most often. Cookie cutter advice handed out exactly the same no matter what your goals, personality, motivation, struggles, confidence level, business, etc. are. They create one system, hand it out to everyone, and don’t take the time to personalize it. While I have some aspects of my coaching experience or exercises that I have all my clients do, I make an effort to make the process the best it can be for you. For where you’re at, for what your needs are, and for who you are.
5) They provide clear expectations for your work together.
On my services pages, I list out not only the types of topics I cover, but what my packages look like. I tell you that I’m here to be your “sounding board, biggest fan, and kick-in-the-pants to get you where you want to go”. I tell you who is and who is not the type of client I work with. I tell you that ultimately, you’re the one responsible for getting your work done. I lay all of this out so the right client comes my way, and it makes it oh-so-easy to know if you’re that client.
Let me know if you have any other questions about finding your ideal coach! 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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