Why hire a coach? And how do you choose?

Jun 10

Most of us are used to muddling through our issues and decisions with the occasional advice of friends and colleagues. But there can come a time when we don’t have the right resources to draw on or it is too much of an imposition to ask the people we know to help us sort through our alternatives or to develop more options.

An expert can help. And perhaps counter intuitively, the expertise you need is not of another vet. A business or career coach is someone whose expertise is not your profession, but someone people turn to, to help them sort out and imagine new options. A coach can help you establish options, sort out priorities, help you determine what else you need to know, get you ready to get in touch with your contacts and do other research so that you can successfully set and meet your objectives. Broadly speaking, the difference between a coach and a therapist is that a therapist looks back so you can address old issues. A coach looks forward to see how to make what you want into a reality.

There are as many different styles of coaching as there are coaches. Your job is to interview a handful and decide who you would like to try out. Below are some considerations in choosing a coach who is right for you. May have some familiarity with vets or with your sector (Working in a partnership, in a hospital, on your own, etc.) Ask about their process and whether they have a standard process or not, tell them about where you are in your process and ask them generally how they would approach it. Ask or read about their background. This information may be on their website. Coaches use many different models for payment. You can ask about hourly or session rates, coach accessibility between appointments, minimum numbers of sessions, if any. Some coaches with high minimums will provide a free session to begin. Take advantage if it!

Bottom line the coach has to feel comfortable to you. Is this a person who you could trust? How much do you want them to challenge you? In the end of the day, trust your gut. You will always know best.

Win Sheffield

Win provides one-on-one coaching for clients to sharpen their career building skills and tell their stories to realize their value in the job market. He works with clients, from the trading desk to the jeweler’s bench, to advance in fields right for them.

His clients develop confidence communicating their value and end up with superior networking ability. Their cover letters are worth reading and their resumes get them in the door. He also hones clients’ money-making negotiation skills. Win has been gratified by feedback from clients that he has helped them improve their attitudes, gain confidence and become grounded in the job search process.

After a career in strategy development and implementation at Citibank, J.P. Morgan and PricewaterhouseCoopers, Win made his own transition into career coaching. In addition to an M.B.A. from Boston University and an undergraduate degree from Kenyon College, Win is certified as a career coach through the Five O’Clock Club. He has also trained at two nationally known outplacement firms and has studied Myers-Briggs at the Jung Institute and counseling at The General Theological Seminary.

Win has spoken and taught career courses at the New York Public Library,NYSSA and various professional and alumni groups in New York, London and San Francisco. Topics include ‘Networking for the Rest of Us’, ‘The Effective Resume’, ‘Strong Morale in your Job Campaign’ and ‘Career Management for Introverts’.

Please contact Win to learn more how to bring more success to your career.

http://www.winsheffield.com/

Why hire a coach? And how do you choose?

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