Here’s a quick checklist to help with your decision-making.
- Experience and Qualifications: Look for a coach who has significant experience working with executives and leaders in your industry or similar fields. They should have relevant qualifications such as certifications in coaching, psychology, or organisational development.
- Track Record of Success: Investigate the coach’s track record with past clients. Do they have testimonials or case studies demonstrating positive outcomes?
- Alignment with Your Goals and Values: Ensure that the coach understands your specific goals and challenges and has a coaching approach that aligns with your values and preferences. A good coach will tailor their approach to meet your individual needs.
- Chemistry and Rapport: It’s important to feel comfortable with your coach and have a good rapport with them. Trust and openness are essential for a productive coaching relationship, so take the time to assess how well you connect with the coach during initial consultations or sessions.
- Feedback and Assessment: A quality coach will use assessments or feedback tools to gain insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for development. They should be able to provide constructive feedback and help you create a development plan based on your unique profile.
- Coaching Approach and Techniques: Understand the coach’s approach to coaching and the techniques they use. Some coaches may focus more on skill-building and performance enhancement, while others may emphasise personal development and self-awareness. Choose a coach whose approach resonates with you and meets your needs.
- Confidentiality and Ethics: Ensure that the coach adheres to strict confidentiality standards and ethical guidelines. Executive coaching often involves discussing sensitive issues, so trust and confidentiality are absolute.
- Continued Learning and Development: A good coach should be committed to their own learning and development. Ask about their ongoing training, supervision, and participation in professional organisations to ensure they stay current with best practices in coaching.
- Investment and Logistics: Consider your investment and the coach’s availability, as well as logistical factors such as location (if in-person sessions are preferred) and scheduling flexibility. Focus on the value and impact of the coaching relationship.
Jamie is an executive, leadership and performance coach, with a thirty-year career in healthcare, behavioural change and medical education.
Jamie’s coaching practice has clients in the public and private sectors including health, legal, banking, insurance, retail and industry.
Individuals include chief operating officers, chief executives, executive directors, lawyers, medical consultants, medical advisors, senior managers, managing directors and senior healthcare professionals.
He is an executive coach at Cardiff Business School, where he provides leadership and performance coaching to clients studying for Executive MBA, MBA and Masters in Public Leadership.
Reach out now to start your coaching journey.