3 Signs You've Found the Right Professional Coach

Like any partnership, your professional coach should be a good match. US corporations spend more than $2 billion on executive coaches annually to support their leaders, and for individuals, career coaching has become a booming industry. Safe to say, there are “plenty of fish in the sea” when it comes to finding a coach.

Here are some signs that your career or professional coach is the right fit for you:

1. You feel heard 

We can all think of someone in our personal or professional lives who spends more time thinking about what they are going to say next than they do listening to you in the moment. When it comes to professional coaching, the coach might play the role of facilitator, but they are not the focal point - you are. 

If you feel like your coach spends more time on themselves or their advice, you might want to question whether you’re getting everything you hoped for out of your coaching relationship. You should leave sessions feeling like they truly heard and understood you.

1. It’s easy to talk to them, even when the topics aren’t easy

Some challenging topics can arise in coaching sessions- maybe it’s talking through a professional or personal hurdle, maybe it’s discussing self doubt - whatever it is, your coach should make you feel comfortable to open up. Will this mean it’s simple for you to broach these areas and even say it aloud, of course not. Some things are innately challenging to talk about. However, with the right coach, you should feel like you have a safe space to do so.

1. They empower you while challenging you

Your coach should recognize your strengths and be able to call them out. They should help praise and champion you. You should feel more confident with their support. Having said that, it wouldn’t be in your best interest to find a coach that purely tells you what you want to hear. They should be able to professionally push you and challenge your perceptions. If they aren’t, take a pulse check to make sure you’re still feeling like you’re meeting your growth objectives through this relationship. 

Hopefully these tips have reinstated that you and your coach are a great match. If not, consider looking into a coach who might be a better fit for you.