How Do You Find A Great Coach?

What important lessons and skills do you remember learning from your favorite teacher? How about from your coach who stressed winning — and being a good sport when you didn’t? How about the insights a mentor offered on your first job? Ever wish you could just call up Mrs. Schroeder, Coach Spangler or Mike Dunn — and get a little more of their advice every once in a while?

As in every profession, you can find coaches, good coaches and great coaches. People who can help you learn a new skill or two…and those who can enable you to master any endeavor. Charlotte Landram, a well-respected professional business coach, says there are five characteristics great coaches possess. Look for all five in your search for a great coach:

Coaches should be excellent listeners rather than merely great speakers. You must feel completely comfortable talking to your coach, and that she’s actively listening to you. Otherwise, real communication, sharing, and learning quickly come to a halt.
Coaches should have played the game. They should have experience in your specific field or have led the type of business you’re building. You want a coaching partner who brings credibility and resources beginning on day one.
Coaches should be prepared and prompt. You want a coach who is ready to work, and one who follows an agreed-upon plan. She should also be respectful of your time — and available when needed.
Coaches should fully respect their clients. Coaching is not about creating a client clone. Effective coaching involves helping clients learn about themselves, and helping them develop new ways to leverage their unique skills.
Coaches should be able to offer advice you can act on. Some coaches know a lot — they may even have all the answers to life — but if they can’t convey information, ideas, and insights in ways people can understand and implement, they aren’t offering effective coaching.

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