A big reason many of us feel lost in our work life is that we can’t imagine what we really want to be doing, what we have a passion for doing, in this chapter of our lives. So we freeze in place.
If you know you need an adjustment but are uncertain of what to do, a career coach can help you set goals, outline the moves you need to make, and motivate you—if it fits in your budget.
Sure, you can ask your friends, family, and colleagues past and present for advice, but often I find it helps to get unprejudiced guidance from an outsider who can focus just on you and your unique set of
circumstances.
A 2014 study by the International Coach Federation of 18,810 workers representing 25 countries found that the number one reason cited for seeking coaching was to enhance work performance (42 percent), followed by expanding career opportunities (33 percent), increasing self-esteem/self-confidence (31 percent), improving business
management strategies (29 percent), and managing work-life balance (27 percent). Interestingly, men were more likely than women to receive coaching to expand professional opportunities, while women were more likely than men to seek coaching to improve work-life balance.
Hiring a coach can be a little tricky because there are so many people out there who call themselves career coaches. Your employer might offer coaching as a benefit, so check with your human resource
department or your supervisor. Another place to look for coaching help is at the alumni office of your alma mater. Local libraries and
community colleges frequently offer coaching workshop sessions, too.
One place to start looking online is the Life Planning Network
(lifeplanningnetwork.org). This web site offers a directory of coaches geared to midlife workers. You might also want to tap into expert mentor advice via PivotPlanet (pivotplanet.com). I have found the experts there to be very knowledgeable, even during a one-time visit, and you can hire them as coaches if you choose.
Here’s how to pick a coach:
Seek out credentials. Career coaching is a self-regulated profession.
It’s not essential that your coach has a professional designation, but it’s an indication that he or she has taken the time to undergo formal preparation and follow general standards of professionalism. One place to find a directory of credentialed coaches is the International Coach Federation (ICF; coachfederation.org). ICF-credentialed coaches have met educational requirements, received coach training, and undergone a number of experience hours, among other
requirements. Two other helpful sites are the Association of Career Professionals International (acpinternational.org) and the National Career Development Association (ncda.org).
Do your due diligence. Find out as much as you can about the
coaches you are considering and their own career journey. What led them to coaching and what kinds of workers have they helped to date? Do they have any specialty? Most coaches have web sites that can help you with this background check. Search the coach’s name on the Web. You can find coaches who have a blog via directories such as Alltop.com (careers.alltop.com)) or who are on Twitter by searching WeFollow under #coach.
Request references. Don’t expect that checking references will reveal any dirt, but it will give you an opportunity to find out more about any potential coaches, how they like to work with clients, and, importantly, what worked in their sessions with the coach that
solved their issues.
Look for a coach you can meet with in a way that works best for you. You might opt to meet in person, on the phone, by e-mail, or by Skype or Google+ Hangout. You don’t need to work with a coach who lives nearby. The key is to have someone’s undivided attention.
So if your friend has a great recommendation for someone in another state, you can work with that coach, too.
Once you’ve narrowed your search, you may want to connect with a few candidates to find one who fits for you. The initial meet-and-greet session should be free of charge. Even if your most trusted colleague
loved the coach, it will come down to how you personally connect with him or her. You’ll be revealing intimate details of your life, your
dreams, and your strengths and weaknesses, so you’ll want to feel safe and be able to trust that person completely.
Ultimately, the career coach you hire should encourage you, drive you, and give you the inner confidence to step into the untried with grace.
But it won’t work if you aren’t in sync and open to the help.
Rates will vary—anywhere from $50 to more than $200 per hour. Some may want you to agree to a minimum number of hours. A typical coach- client relationship lasts from six months to a year.
That said, you might start with one or two meetings, or weekly or
monthly meetings. And you have to be accountable for actually making active changes. I love it when coaches give homework to prepare for future sessions, or suggest books to read. Assignments keep you working toward your goal of changing your work life for the better.
Finally, remember to treat your relationship with your coach as a business one. Your agreement will spell out what you expect from the coach and vice versa.