As more companies continue to investigate whether or not they should hire a professional business coach, it helps to have a good list of what to look for. If you are in the market and can find someone who can do all this — hire them.
A good coach . . .
1. Keeps things simple.
2. Makes learning fun in a “safe haven” environment.
3. Celebrates the individual. Cheers them up, props them up, and helps them up. Meeting with a good coach should be a positive emotional experience – not a trip to the dentist.
4. Consistently demonstrates compassion. He or she cares. They do not fake sincerity.
5. Protects the needs of the people more than the personal paycheck.
6. Is every bit as human – or more so – than those he/she is working with.
7. Is a positive influence in the lives of others; and demonstrates how the pieces fit together by living a full, rounded life of their own that proves he or she “walks the talk.”
8. Is relevant to and respectful of their coachees’ personal and professional lives.
9. Is “unconsciously competent” with topics he or she teaches.
10. Listens attentively with applied retention and effective, smart situational recall.
11. Teaches more than preaches. “Shares, cares, and teaches” – three big keys to helping others chase their personal and professional potential.
12. Focuses on a critical few things rather than a “myriad of many” with secondary importance.
13. Repeatedly explains Why. And follows the Why with options (“You may want to consider this, that, or the other because….”) — rather than doling out prescriptions (“Do this, then that, don’t do that,” etc.).
14. Tests understanding frequently. And holds people accountable for internalizing key messages. Effective coaching builds, the lessons are the blocks. Coaches must focus on what’s relevant and attendees must own the application of key principles. If this doesn’t happen, you’re both wasting time on nothing more than light exercise.
15. Is highly accessible and follows up frequently – sometimes randomly.
16. Remains warmly approachable even after the engagement is complete.
17. Keeps his/her mouth shut. A good coach protects confidentiality with integrity. Amateurs blab.
18. Is always happy. Has his/her own life in order and is passionate about their work.
19. Is flexible to adeptly and situationally slide back and forth along a continuum between supportive, encouraging kindness and tough love.
20. Knows how to apologize – freely and sincerely – if and when the circumstance arises.
21. Has the discipline to remain completely engaged in the moment — every minute of every hour of every meeting or interaction.
22. Never stops learning. Knows a library’s worth of invisible little things and has the smarts and discipline to use any and all as situations unfold.
23. Doesn’t pontificate or pretend to know it all. Times, ideas, and thought leadership all change. The key is keeping up — no one ever catches up completely. Good coaches don’t need to BS about things they do not know. Fakers do.
24. Knows the work is never about them — but always about the people being coached.
Coaching is a noble profession. While some earn their invitation to the party and come through the front door, many others are not professionals — they sneak into the marketplace through an unlocked sliding glass door, while others unscrupulous fakers climb through a broken basement window and pretend they belong.
It is in a company’s best interest to learn as much as they can about the person they are hiring to do the work. There is a tremendous amount to know in order for someone to be a truly effective coach well. The best service you can provide a coach is a fair audience. Take the time to learn as much as you can about their backgrounds, experiences, approach, sources of intellectual property, and methods. Be hard but fair during the interview process.
The right man or woman in the right scenario can help a company move mountains. Talk to a few and select wisely.