Choosing the Right Coach

Before I start sharing some experiences and leadership tips from work with my clients, I thought it would be a good idea to position just where coaching is today in this part of the world, i.e. Singapore and S. E. Asia in general.

Coaching as a leadership development tool has only really come to prominence in this part of the world over the past five to six years. Initially it was only the global companies who already used coaching as a development strategy in the west who employed Coaches here. The Singapore government however were early adopters of coaching, with the aim of continually upgrading the management skills and leadership behaviour of senior public servants. Now, other locally based companies have caught on to the value of one-to-one coaching and are seeing concrete returns from their investment.

The pool of Coaches has grown in line with the demand and there are now one hundred and forty Coaches registered with the Singapore chapter of the International Coach Federation. They cover various coaching specialities including; executive, life, career, parental and others.

With so many Coaches available now, making a choice can be challenging. Here are a few tips to take into account when hiring a Coach.

1. Some trainers and consultants have suddenly started calling themselves Coaches but have never been trained and have neither the skills nor knowledge to coach effectively.  Make sure your Coach has been properly trained by a recognised Coach training institute.
2. Check that the Coach has the relevant experience to do the kind of coaching you are looking for. Ask about previous coaching assignments and look for testimonials from satisfied clients.
3. Try to ensure a chemistry match between the Coach and coachee. The coaching relationship is confidential and many personal fears, anxieties and emotions may be shared in the course of a coaching programme. It is important that both parties feel comfortable with each other.
4. Ask the Coach what tools and techniques he or she typically uses during the course of a coaching programme. You need to make sure the Coach has the appropriate tool kit to cope with the assignment you have in mind, as well as the basic coaching skills.
5. Finally, ask if the Coach is affiliated to a professional body such as the ICF (International Coach Federation). If they are an accredited member of the ICF you have an assurance that they have completed a minimum number hours of Coach training, have passed an ICF exam and have at least some verifiable professional experience.

For more information, visit my web site; www.wayahead.com.sg and www.icfsingapore.org