Good life coaches get into their profession because they want to help people. Despite the many good life coaches out there, there are still several that are just scam artists, ready and waiting to take your money and give you nothing in return. How can you separate the scammers from the saints?
Accreditation and Experience
Whenever you hire someone for a job, the first thing you should do is some background research. Hiring a life coach is no different. If you pay a life coach, you want them to help you. So, an easy way to get a good coach is to find a life coach that has helped people before.
Find a life coach that is accredited and a member of the International Coach Federation. The ICF has a handy tool on their website where you can search their database of coaches. They are one of the largest and most trustworthy associations of life coaches.
Unfortunately, many life coach accreditations can be purchased without any training or education. That’s why experience is also important. You want someone who has experience coaching and helping people toward their goals. If they have a website, look for testimonials or ask if they have any references you could speak to. It can also be useful to find a person who has experience in a specific area, especially if you need financial, spiritual, or relationship advice.
Use Critical Thinking
Remember that if something’s too good to be true, then it’s probably false. Don’t be drawn in by impressive and outrageous claims. A life coach may be able to help you, but they can’t fix your life all on their own.
If you find a life coach that you think you might like to hire, look them up. Find out if they have a website, maybe try to talk to some former clients. Ask the potential coach questions about their accreditation, their education, what they do.
Don’t just hand your cash to someone that you don’t know. Many people use the Internet to prey on others. Check for testimonials from other clients, recommendations from trustworthy sources.
Warning Signs
Be wary of life coaches that make promises they can’t keep. Pay attention to the way they interact with you--are they trying to help you or trying to sell you something? Do they happily give you information about themselves that you ask for, or do they try to avoid your questions?
If you feel uneasy about a potential life coach, you should probably not hire them. Even if they’re not a scammer, you want to work with someone who makes you feel comfortable--someone you can talk to openly. The more comfortable you feel, the more you’ll get out of the experience.
