Ready to Engage a Coach? Your Questions Answered Here

Professional coaching is all the rage: 78 percent of LinkedIn’s top US companies are actively investing in career coaching, and one in two coaches said their clients are mostly managers or leaders according to a 2023 International Coaching Federation (ICF) study.

As coaching continues to rise in popularity, especially as a resource for career development, many are asking these key questions:

• “How can I find a coach?”

• “What are the different types of coaches?”

• “How do I know if a coach is properly trained?”

If you are eager to learn more about this growing professional development method, look no further. At ICF, my job is to answer these questions and support clients and coaches in navigating the ins and outs of this rapidly growing industry.

Let’s begin with the most common question: How can I find a coach?

Coaching is available in more than 150 countries worldwide. The reasons clients (and their organizations on their behalf) engage with coaches are as varied as the number of coaches around the world.

Some of the most measurable impacts of coaching include improved communication skills, increased self-confidence, improved work-life balance, increased productivity, and optimized work performance, to name a few, according to the 2022 ICF Global Consumer Awareness Study (GCAS).

The key when looking to hire a coach is to find the right coach for your needs and budget, while prioritizing proper credentialing to ensure a valuable and effective experience. It is critical to engage a coach who has been properly trained, educated, and credentialed. After all, you wouldn’t go to an unlicensed doctor; the same applies to a coach.

• When you or your organization is ready to hire a coach (or coaches): Do your homework! Develop an understanding of what coaching is and isn’t, and what the process requires of coachees and their organizations. There is ample information available online. Here are some good places to start: the ICF Research Portal and ATD’s Coaching page.

• Reflect on you or your organization’s goals and objectives: Coaching is a deeply personal engagement, and you only get out of it what you’re willing to put into the process. Before meeting with a coach, take time to think about what you or your teams hope to accomplish. Check out the 2022 GCAS for ideas of what coaching is proven to achieve.

• Interview at least three coaches: To find a coach you connect with personally, set up introductory meetings with at least three coaches who align with your needs (location, price point, specialty, and others). ICF maintains a database of more than 60,000 credentialed coaches.

• Confirm certification: Research each coach’s training, memberships, and credentials and ensure they align with a reputable program. A credentialing body like ICF offers accreditation for coaching education programs to signify a reliable curriculum.

When you’re ready to find the right coach, many credentialing bodies offer coach finders like this one that provide access to thousands of certified coaches.

Let’s unpack the various types of coaches.

Coaching is relevant and in demand across many industries and specialties. As a result, there are dozens of coaching types that meet various needs. The most popular form of coaching is workplace or career coaching. These coaches typically work one-on-one with a client to support their personal career journey or professional development. Many organizations also engage coaches as a benefit for their employees or leaders. Other types of coaching include financial, relationship, social impact, healthcare, life coaching, team coaching, and more.

Regardless of a coach’s specialty, it is important that they maintain a credential to ensure they adhere to best practices and prioritize the experience of their clients.

Without a doubt, the most important question to answer is whether a coach is credentialed.

Whatever else you do, make sure to confirm your prospective coach is credentialed by a reputable organization. According to the 2022 GCAS, 85 percent of existing coaching clients believe it is important that their coach holds a professional credential. A credential indicates that the coach has demonstrated an understanding of science-backed best practices and is held accountable to clearly defined ethical standards for the profession. Having an active credential means that the coach remains current on continuing education, which is particularly relevant as client needs evolve. As with any profession, a coach’s learning shouldn’t stop with the credential or degree—it is a career-long commitment.

When you interview prospective coaches, asking certain questions can help uncover their relative education and experience:

• What is the depth of your coaching experience? What are some of your coaching success stories?

• What does your coach-specific training look like?

• Do you hold an active coaching credential? From which organization(s)?

• What ethical guidelines or best practices do you adhere to?

• How do you measure the success of your coaching?

Because credentials like those offered by ICF indicate a coach has achieved key milestones including education, experience, mentor coaching, performance evaluations, and exams, you can feel confident that the selected coach is well equipped to help you or your organization work toward your goals. Refer to the credentialed coach finder as a resource to confirm a coach’s credential is current and identify coaches who meet these standards.

Understand your investment in a coach.

Coaching is a two-way partnership between coach and client. To ensure the validity of this rapidly expanding profession, it is paramount that people know how to find a credentialed coach with the right experience, focus, and specialty to meet their needs.

To begin your coaching journey, start by asking the right questions and make sure to take time to reflect on your unique needs to find the best support for you.