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Coach Referral Service
The International Coach Federation (ICF) offers a FREE Coach Referral Service
HOW CAN I FIND THE RIGHT COACH?
The ICF hosts a searchable directory of its coach members called the Coach Referral Service (CRS). The CRS makes available the information to match the appropriate coach with the client, depending on the client's needs. Since coaches often specialize in various areas, it's a good idea for the prospective client to shop around for the coach with the most experience and combination of qualities they seek. In the CRS, one can find business coaches, financial coaches, relationship coaches, spiritual coaches, life planning coaches, a rock-n-roll band coach and hundreds more.
Consumers Guide To Hiring A Coach
If you have any problems please call ICF at 888-423-3131 (Toll free in the US or Canada) or 859-219-3580.
The ICF recommends following these Coach Selection Recommendations, as well:
- Educate yourself about coaching. Hundreds of articles have been written about it in the last 3-5 years.
- Know your objectives for working with a coach.
- Interview three coaches before you decide on one. Ask them about their experience, qualifications, skills, and ask for at least two references.
- Remember, coaching is an important relationship. There should be a connection between you and the coach that "feels" right to you.
WHAT IS COACHING?
Coaching is an interactive process that helps individuals and organizations to develop more rapidly and produce more satisfying results. Coaches work with clients in all areas including business, career, finances, health and relationships. As a result of coaching, clients set better goals, take more action, make better decisions, and more fully use their natural strengths.
Professional coaches are trained to listen and observe, to customize their approach to the individual client's needs, and to elicit solutions and strategies from the client. They believe that the client is naturally creative and resourceful and that the coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has. While the coach provides feedback and an objective perspective, the client is responsible for taking the steps to produce the results he or she desires. Coaching does not focus directly on relieving psychological pain or treating cognitive or emotional disorders. Note - to further understand the coaching professions click on "Nature and Scope of Coaching." Below are coaching specialties to review before selecting a coach:
Executive and Corporate Coaching:
- Human Resources Departments interested in hiring external coaches
- CEO's, executives, managers and other professionals who would like a coach
- Companies looking to launch a coaching initiative
- Companies intending to train their managers to be coaches
- Initiative to prevent and/or cure burnout
- Companies interested in coaching workshops
- Companies wanting the support of a coach in any of the following:
Strategic planning, process re-engineering; creating a compelling vision; launching and developing teams; or 360-degree reviews. Small Business Coaching:
- Entrepreneurs
- Owners or Managers of small companies
- Start-up companies (actual or planned)
- Professionals in private practice
- People who run a business from their home
- Executives thinking of leaving companies and launching a business
Personal/Life Coaching:
- Life planning
- Life vision & enhancement
- Extreme self care
- Spirituality
- Relationships (Singles, couples, families, etc.)
- Health & Fitness
- Creativity
- Financial Freedom
- Organization
- Children/Teens/College Students
- Attention Deficit Disorder
Career/Transition Coaching:
- People in career transition
- People with a big career decision to make
- People in a corporate job or considering one
- People struggling with the decision of whether to stay in a corporate job
- People who would like to work with a coach familiar with the following:
The changing expectations of employees and employers; trends in the workplace; values and issues of loyalty and security; specific evaluation criteria for ones company, future or career satisfaction; determining ones readiness to strike out on their own or look for another career. Speakers Resource:
For companies or organizations interested in
- Coaches who give keynote addresses.
- Coaches who give talks to groups.
- Coaches who give workshops.
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