The Savvy Entrepreneur

Q: Where does someone find a qualified coach?

A: Determine what you want to accomplish. Then ask friends and colleagues if they have worked with a coach to achieve goals similar to your own. While coaching does not require a professional license, there are a number of organizations that train or certify coaches.

To locate a coach with the specialty you’re seeking, use one of the many coaching referral services by training schools and associations. You can also easily search for a coach by using your favorite search engine, by using appropriate keywords such as “career transition coach”.

There are literally millions of coaching sites available (for example, when I searched the term “marketing coach” in Google, it generated a total of about 203,000 English pages). You have tons of coaches to choose from, so choose carefully (but don’t procrastinate). Interview two or three possible coaches for comparison. Ask about their background and the type of results they typically help clients achieve. The personal fit between client and coach is an important factor. In your initial conversation, assess not only the coach’s ability to assist you in reaching your goals but how comfortable you feel interacting with him or her. Some coaches also offer complimentary coaching sessions for prospective clients so you can experience what it would be like to work with them.