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50 TOP EXECUTIVE COACHES
Given those two fundamentals of ethics and anthropology, the process of
finding a coach is a systematic one. I call it the six steps of shopping for a
coach.
1.
Get real. Getting real means you are going to have to share parts of
yourself with a coach that may feel uncomfortable. A good coach, like
a doctor, needs to do a thorough examination. I tell people that they
shouldn’t worry about being exposed as long as they are certain about a
coach’s ethics. A good coach sees many clients, many of them in worse
shape than you.
2.
Get referrals. Don’t just hire the first coach you read about or meet.
Get referrals from friends or colleagues who have worked with
coaches. Pick one with solid ethics and credentials.
3.
Get specialized. Check out your coach’s specialty. No matter how
highly recommended a coach comes, he or she won’t be effective if
you get one with the wrong specialty. Ask the candidates directly.
Evaluate what they are good at. Some coaches appear to be successful
at many things, but in reality they ’re nothing but good salespeople.
4. Get the numbers. Make sure the price is right and the payment sched-
ule works. An ethical coach will tell you the fees right away. If the
price isn’t right, relax and think it over for 24 hours. Don’t be afraid to
shop around and see what others are charging. On the other hand,
don’t be too cheap, because you usually get what you pay for.
5.
Get going. Set up a tire-kicking session. Remember, you’re the one
doing the hiring. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. What’s your spe-
cialty? How long have you been coaching people in this area? Are you
certified? Can I talk to some people you have coached? Ninety-nine
percent of coaching revolves around the issue of trust. You need infor-
mation to create that groundwork.
6.
Get a board. A corporation has a board that provides advice and coun-
sel. I think executives also need a board, two or three people to check
in with, to sound out ideas. At least one board member should be a
good listener and another a wisdom keeper. This breaks the depen-
dency pattern of coaching. You need to balance the point of view of
your coach with those whose perspectives you respect, admire, and as-
pire to. If a coach is threatened by that idea, walk away.
There is no silver bullet in coaching. A person who will succeed and grow
through the experience is someone who has a willingness to reflect and dig
deep. Courage is also key since it is not only necessary to look deep within
yourself, but also necessary to be decisive about the risks you must take to
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