Nate Riggs: Social Business Strategies; communication, social web strategies, & passion in Columbus, Ohio.

I wrote about what I’ve learned by working with a coach.  But, in thinking deeper, I never would have started had it not been for a few key influencers in my life.

But you’re are smarter than I am.  You’ve already made the decision to start coaching on your own, right? You didn’t necessarily need an outside influence to give you a push.  That’s good stuff.  Any people coach – from sports to leadership – will tell you that you will only be successful if you fully invested.   You can lead the horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

There are thousands of coaches out there to investigate.  Making sure to pick the right coach for your situation will be a key decision you will face.  Here are some things to consider when you are doing your due diligence:

1. What do you have in common?
   Most coaches have worked in some other professional role before making the switch into coaching.  Has the coach you’re interviewing worked in a similar field as you?  Do you share the same professional passions and experiences?  What about home life?  Are their commonalities you share? Do you both have kids?  Are you both into physical fitness?  Do you share a passion for cooking or reading?While it’s not a complete dis-qualifier, you may want to consider working with a coach who can understand where you are coming from.  Part of the coaching experience is establishing a certain level of trust.  Sharing some common ground with your coach will help root conversations that will lead to better self-disclosure, and with it better rapport.
   
2. What did the coach study in school?
   A majority of good coaches have a basic understanding of how people tick.  You may want to learn more about what you coach studied in college, as well as what professional development they’ve experienced while working in the business world.Having some credits in psychology, communications, or even human resources can help ensure that you coach grasps the basic academic concepts needed to help teach you the self analytical skills it will take to help you defog your own mirror reflection.
3. Is the coach an author?
   Does your coach write?  They should.  Whether it’s on a blog or in books, or simply the occasional news letter, most good coaches will produce some type of literally outline of their process and ideology.   Coaching is like traveling a long road.  Use writings from your coach to figure out if you buy in to where the coaching process is eventually going to take you.
4. Who else uses the coach?
   Does the coach have other clients like you?  What are their professions?  Are they your same age?  If you stop and think about it, I would make a safe bet that coaches get a fair amount of clients via direct client referrals.  Who can you talk to that is in process with the coach you are looking at?  What stories will they tell you about how they’ve changed?  Are those stories similar to your own?
5. Is the price with in your budget?
   Coaches need to make a living too.  While not quite as bad a graduate school, this is one investment in your future that will not necessarily be cheap.  Coaching is a long term process, so be prepared to look at your budget and make sure that once you start, you can stay with it as long as you need to.  And if you determine that the price is just two high, don’t give up on the idea.  A good amount of coaches are willing to work with you or even offer you small group sessions in order to keep costs down.