What is a career coach?
Welcome back part 2 of my ‘Spring clean your career’ mini guide. Last week I shared some questions to ask yourself if you’re considering 1:1 coaching (click here if you missed it and want to have a read). If you have decided that it’s right for you, then this week I’ve got some suggestions for choosing the perfect career coach:
1. Choose an accredited coach
I would highly recommend working with someone who is accredited by a recognised coaching body such as the ICF (International Coaching Federation), the AC (Association for Coaching), or EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council). The coaching industry is currently unregulated so it’s up to the individual coach to make sure they have adequate training and that they are accredited. If a coach is accredited then they will have to abide by that coaching body’s code of conduct and code of ethics, and there will be legal processes in place in case you ever feel the need to make a complaint. Of course I hope that never happens and that you have an excellent experience with your coach, but knowing that they are accredited means there is some oversight built in and it can give you extra peace of mind.
2. Can they help you achieve the results you are looking for?
Have a read through their case studies and testimonials. Do you recognise yourself in those testimonials? Do they have lots of experience working with clients in a similar situation to yours? Did you receive a word of mouth recommendation for them from someone you trust? Of course it’s important to say that a coach isn’t there do the work for you or provide a ‘magic’ solution, but knowing that they have a track record in helping others in a similar situation to yours can be very useful when making a choice about who to work with.
3. Do you feel a personal connection with them?
You want to pick a coach who ‘gets’ you. Can you see yourself spending time with them? You will be working together (whether it’s virtually or online) for potentially several sessions over a period of weeks or months. So do their values match yours? Do they have an ethos and a message that you resonate with? Try following them online, signing up to their newsletter, and reading their blog posts to get a feel for what they’re like and what they stand for. Most coaches will also offer a free initial ‘Getting to know you’ call which will help you to decide.
4. Don’t just choose a ‘yes’ coach
Change can be a difficult and painful process sometimes. So if you are truly ready for change in your life and willing to do what it takes, then you want to work with a coach who will gently challenge you, keep you accountable and cheer you on. If you encounter something difficult which you’ve always tried to avoid in the past, then your ideal coach will be there to work through it with you and help you overcome it once and for all. Of course if there is a blurring of lines between coaching and counselling, then they will know to signpost you to a mental health professional if they feel it’s more appropriate.
So there you have it. Has this two part mini guide been useful? I’d love to know if it has helped you make a decision about whether to go for coaching. And of course if you feel that after all these considerations, that I might be a good fit as YOUR career coach, then feel free to book a 15min, no obligation call to discuss your career situation further.
Time for a career spring clean? 🌱
Spring is here and a time for new beginnings. So has this got you thinking about dusting off your CV and taking on a new project, going for that promotion, or even considering doing something entirely new?
If so, then a career coach is in the perfect position to help you make those decisions (well I would say that wouldn’t I?). But how do you know if hiring a 1:1 coach is the right option for you? And if so, how do you go about finding the perfect one when there are so many coaches out there?
Well I’ve written this little two part guide to help you figure it all out. In part one, I’ll share my tips for deciding if 1:1 coaching is right for you and in part two, how to choose the right career coach. So here we go...
Part 1: Do I need 1:1 coaching? Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do you prefer an experience that is tailored to you and your specific needs?
Perhaps in the past you’ve done a course or read a book and you loved some of the material but not all of it was relevant to you. Or perhaps you’ve been in a group or a class situation where you learned some general information on the topic but felt like you didn’t get quite enough attention from the tutor or the coach about your particular issues. If you recognise either of these situations, then it could be a sign that working 1:1 with someone is what you really need, because the whole experience is then tailored to your needs and you won’t waste any more time. It can be a great option if you want to see results FAST!
2. Would you benefit from some extra accountability?
Do you need someone who is going to guide you through that a process of change? This doesn’t mean that they do the work for you of course, but do you want someone who can encourage you, support you and also gently challenge you when you need it? When you work with a 1:1 coach, you book regular sessions to check in with them and often you can also email them in between if you have any extra questions or need some encouragement. This additional accountability can make a huge difference towards achieving your goals.
3. Do you want a clear and personalised action plan?
This is the sort of plan which shows you exactly what your personal version of success looks like and the steps you need to take to get there. With 1:1 coaching, you usually come away from each session with specific action steps or reflection points, so that you know exactly what you need to go and do or think about next. Are you the kind of person this would appeal to?
Ok so I hope those questions helped to clarify your thoughts, and in part 2 of this ‘Spring clean your career’ mini guide with some additional tips for helping you choose the right career coach.
How to discover your superpowers
Are you feeling stuck in your life or career, but have no idea how to get yourself out of that rut?
Well one of the most helpful things you can do for yourself is to identify your strengths. Everyone has their own personal set of strengths that they can call on to help them achieve their goals and overcome any challenges.
It’s like having your own unique ‘superpowers’ that allow you to perform at your best and therefore feel more confident about what you have to offer the world.
Identifying mine was one of the most helpful things that I did when I was stuck in my last corporate job and my confidence levels were low. I had completely lost sight of what I really loved to do, after years of trying to fit myself into job roles that weren’t right and having to develop skills that were required but that I had no passion for (mastering excel spreadsheets anyone?).
However, doing the following exercise helped me get clear again on what I was good at and use that as a guide to figure out what my dream life and career could look like:
Notice what you enjoy.
Start to make a note each day of the things you love doing the most. What comes easily to you? What do you feel motivated and energised to do?
In positive psychology, this is called ‘being in flow’ and it’s how you can identify when your individual strengths and talents are being fully engaged. Here are some additional questions you can ask yourself:
What were you good at as a child?
What skills have you learned quickly and easily?
What attracts your attention and curiosity?
When are you completely absorbed and lose track of time?
What subject could you talk about for hours on end?
When time flies without you noticing, that’s when you’re in flow. Start to make a deliberate effort to have more flow experiences on a regular basis, whether that’s at work or at home, and notice your energy and happiness levels start to rise.
