What should I look for in a coach?
First, a prospective client should check that the coach:
There are many coaches out there who have little to no formal training and don't understand the difference between coaching and consulting, or between coaching and therapy. If a coach is not certified by the International Coach Federation (the ICF -- the global self-governing body of the coaching profession), then they are they not bound by the ICF Code of Conduct Standards, which states, in part, that coaches:
A coach certified by a legitimate coaching institution will have spent countless hours in training prior to coaching clients and then significant hours coaching real clients, while supervised by coaching masters. At Optimism Inc., we are certified by both the Coaches Training Institute (CTI, the leading global coaching institution) and the ICF.
After ensuring a coach is properly trained and certified, you need to find the coach that is the right fit for you. Everyone looks for something different. First and foremost, the chemistry and a sense of trust should be there. If it's not, the coaching won't work. Some people look for coaches with a particular specialty. Others want a broader-focused coach. Some people prefer coaches who are soft and gentle while others are choose coaches who are hard-charging.
At Optimism Inc., we like to work with a wide variety of clients, both corporate and personal. It keeps it interesting, and the result of coaching a wide array of personality types with different coaching needs benefits both the coach's continued development and their client base. Our coaching style is warm, compassionate and sometimes times irreverent, with an "East Coast Tell It Like It Is" approach. Coaching is never judgmental or harsh...but it will be honest and direct, as you did not come to coaching to have someone just tell you what you want to hear. You want change.
You want the coach to be honest about what they see...even if it's hard to hear.
You're coming to coaching for transformation.
Demand it.
Settle for nothing less.
Contact us for a free consultation to see if we might be the right fit for you.
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- has received formal training from a reputable, accredited coaching institution,
- is certified either by an accredited coaching institution or by the International Coach Federation (ICF), or both
There are many coaches out there who have little to no formal training and don't understand the difference between coaching and consulting, or between coaching and therapy. If a coach is not certified by the International Coach Federation (the ICF -- the global self-governing body of the coaching profession), then they are they not bound by the ICF Code of Conduct Standards, which states, in part, that coaches:
- maintain confidentiality
- conduct themselves in a professional manner
- not misrepresent their skills or services
- are obligated to refer individuals to an appropriate mental professional should it become apparent at any time that the individual is in need of services outside the purview of a trained coach
- notify either employers/parents and/or the appropriate authorities should a coach become aware that a client wishes to injure him or herself or others.
A coach certified by a legitimate coaching institution will have spent countless hours in training prior to coaching clients and then significant hours coaching real clients, while supervised by coaching masters. At Optimism Inc., we are certified by both the Coaches Training Institute (CTI, the leading global coaching institution) and the ICF.
After ensuring a coach is properly trained and certified, you need to find the coach that is the right fit for you. Everyone looks for something different. First and foremost, the chemistry and a sense of trust should be there. If it's not, the coaching won't work. Some people look for coaches with a particular specialty. Others want a broader-focused coach. Some people prefer coaches who are soft and gentle while others are choose coaches who are hard-charging.
At Optimism Inc., we like to work with a wide variety of clients, both corporate and personal. It keeps it interesting, and the result of coaching a wide array of personality types with different coaching needs benefits both the coach's continued development and their client base. Our coaching style is warm, compassionate and sometimes times irreverent, with an "East Coast Tell It Like It Is" approach. Coaching is never judgmental or harsh...but it will be honest and direct, as you did not come to coaching to have someone just tell you what you want to hear. You want change.
You want the coach to be honest about what they see...even if it's hard to hear.
You're coming to coaching for transformation.
Demand it.
Settle for nothing less.
Contact us for a free consultation to see if we might be the right fit for you.
Click here to return to the
FAQ Home Page
Ready to talk? Click to contact us.
