Who Is Your Mentor?
Choose your coaching mentor wisely, you’re going to work closely with them. When you’re setting out as a coach, it is advisable to find yourself a mentor or mentors. Be very careful whom you choose. Your mentor should have experience of the thing that you want to achieve. If you want to be a life coach, they should have experience of life coaching (and not just a qualification). If you want to be a business coach then be absolutely certain that your mentor actually has business coaching experience.
Beware Fancy Titles
Some organisations use fancy titles to convey authority or experience where there is none. Check carefully what any title actually means; does it mean that the individual concerned has good coaching and mentoring skills and experience, or is it simply a rank within the organisation?
For example the definition of ‘Professional Coach’ according to the International Coaching Federation (ICF) is one who has in excess of 500 coaching hours, with at least 25 clients. ‘Master Coach’ on the other hand, is one who has in excess of 2500 coaching hours, with at least 35 clients. Check exactly what a title means; are you actually just talking to a sales person?
Ask For Evidence
When you are looking around at potential sources of mentors, ask for evidence. If there are claims of success based on the mentoring offered, speak to at least 5 coaches who have experienced that mentoring. Ask them about the support offered and about their earnings (obviously, you can’t expect them to give you an exact figure, but you should be able to find out a ball-park). Also ask them if what they got was what they expected – including the time frame.
Don’t be taken in by slick advertising that assures you of a six-figure income, if you just follow advice. Make sure that you read between the lines. Its easy to employ a copywriter who can write promises that are not fulfilled.