Tips for Hiring a Coach

Coaching has become a term of art with far wider applications than simply sports. One can now retain dating coaching, executive coaching, life coaching, systemic coaching, professional coaching, among others. How has such a specific term become so widely applied? Well, America is a sports obsessed nation.

With 24/7 sports news channels, the personal lives of prominent athletes becoming news fodder, and sports gear and uniform parts becoming a mega-million dollar industry, the successful coach has become a venerable figure in our society. Our nation is also success obsessed. So, rather than consult a parent or close friend on how to find the ideal romantic partner, why not consult the no-nonsense, winner-take-all dating coach?

If you feel you must have a coach to reach your desired level of attainment there are some things you should look for, and others you should look out for.

Experience. You wouldn't hire a hockey player to coach your basketball team would you? So, why hire a promiscuous Don Juan wannabe to help you find a lifelong mate? Don Juan may know all about seducing women, but he is the last person in the world to know the first thing about establishing a family. Be careful to confirm that whomever you hire to coach you at whatever activity has really achieved success in that field.

A legitimate coach in any field will be more than happy to provide you with a number of former or current clients who can vouch for the coach's product.

Ivory Tower. Watch out for the guy with 5 letters after his name who has never held a job, let alone achieved success, in the field he is coaching. Impressive titles, degrees, and even names dropped can prompt some to write a blank check. Again, check for the coach's products.

The Endless Consultation. Be wary of open-ended and/or lengthy engagements. You want to enter into a contract that gives your coach a specified period of time to achieve perceivable progress toward your aims. Don't buy into "this is the industry standard contract" or other such givens. A contract can reflect, and should reflect, any deal two parties enter into. Make sure the contract doesn't obligate you to pay someone for an extended period of time regardless of result. Unfortunately, there are many people in this culture who profit on talking a good game. You want a coach who can coach a good game.