If you have been considering hiring a coach, you have probably discovered there are many formats and programs available. Perhaps this has led to confusion or, even worse, procrastination in deciding what’s best for you. Actually, this kind dilemma is typical of why people hire a coach in the first place!

You can hire a personal coach who will work with your agenda. You can attend one of the success seminars and follow it up with a six-month or year long program with a fixed curriculum. You can find coaching that includes marketing materials, business plans, teleconferences, tapes and videos. You can pay as little as $99 per month or $1000+ per month. Which one, if any, is right the right choice for you?

Questions to ask yourself

You will get the most out of having a coach when your objectives are clear. Begin by taking a hard look at why you want a coach and what you are willing to do in the process.

1. What outcome(s) are most important to you in working with a coach? Your clarity of purpose in two or three areas will help you know what you need.
2. Are you ready to stretch yourself and make changes? Sometimes we would love a different result but it is really a pipe dream rather than a goal..we just are not willing or ready to take the actions to make it happen. Every time you make one choice, you are saying “no” to their choices. Knowing what’s most important to you is critical. Otherwise, you will beat yourself up unmercifully over the “shoulds”.
3. What do you think you need to do to get where you want to go? A good coach will enable you to use your own strengths to achieve your personal best. You probably already know what you could do to be more successful. What’s holding you back?

   Are you able to afford at least 6 months of coaching? Do not start coaching with just enough money to cover 2-3 months. It will usually take up to 6 months to see substantial changes and results. Make sure you can pay for it without suffering.

   Are you looking for specific production ideas & programs or a holistic approach? Some coaches/programs are really providing a system and support on how to use & implement it vs personal effectiveness coaching. Each of these can be very powerful. It will be an individual choice based on your needs.

Making the right choice

Coaching is a very personal relationship. The most important element is a good fit. You should not hire a coach just because they made someone else successful. You are unique and what will empower you and unleash your personal best is different from others. A feeling that the coach (or the coaching program) fits with your style, your integrity and your natural strengths is important. I hear from agents who have participated in programs that did not fit for them and while, they will say the program was good, they do not continue with actions when the coach isn’t there. Good coaching will help you discover where your personal strengths can be leveraged more effectively, so you are authentically using your talents, rather than forcing you to try to emulate a style that will never be you. Then it is easy to be in action because you are naturally just being you---doing what you do best---instead of trying to make yourself take actions that aren’t aligned with your values and integrity.

Published: July 11, 2001

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Joeann Fossland ePRO, GRI, MCC, PMN, SRS is a dynamic speaker and business coach. Co-creator of THE REAL ESTATE GAME® and NoBloggerLeftBehind.com, she provides coaching solutions to enhance your effectiveness and life balance. You can subscribe to her free weekly tips, attend free monthly tele-seminars, and find out about classes delivered by email and personal coaching by visiting Joeann.com or email her at .