Choosing an online coach is very personal. Here we break down the qualitative and quantitative measurements you can use to choose the best coach for your needs.
Qualitative
1. Alignment & Connection
To start, there has to be a connection, when you take away all the achievements and trophies the coach can showcase, the real question is – do you connect with them, do you align with their views, and do you trust them. If you don’t have a degree of foundational respect and trust, then building a mentor relationship with them will be pretty difficult, to say the least. But how do you discover if you are aligned with their core values and have that connection? We recommend having a discovery call or video chat. There are some things you can’t gauge through email. Having a live conversation with them to explore their beliefs and yours will help you decide if you ‘gel’ or not. During that call ask the hard questions, this call is as much an interview for them as it is for you.
2. Articles & Blog Posts
Reading what a coach produces in writing is a great way to get a feel for their voice, style, and what they value. Coaches frequently publish content on their websites as well as on publication sites like Medium, Read It, and LinkedIn. Take some time to read what they have written. This can be a light shined onto their personality, values, and level of expertise.
Quantitative
1. Case Studies
How many successful case studies does the coach have? This quantitative metric can really separate a great coach from the rest. It is easy to fake some reviews or testimonials, it is a lot harder to fake a whole case study. So these are typically a better reference point than a written review or testimonial on a site. Also, case studies help to really paint a picture, sharing more than just the metrics the coach was able to help the client
2. Degrees and Certifications
This is a great way to see the coach’s dedication to their expertise. These are levels of education that you can use benchmarks when comparing coaches. Since there are no legal requirements to become a coach, essentially anyone can, but not just anyone goes through the time and effort to acquire degrees and certification to prove their education and elevated knowledge.
In the end, choosing your coach is an important decision because it is an investment in your future goals as well as in their ability to help you get there. We recommend taking some time to review what we listed above as well as their reviews on The Orange Flamingo to ensure to connect with a coach that resonates with you and catapults you towards success.
