Am I AIBU to think the coaching industry is weird?

[MsDeerheart]

I have recently become self employed and while networking have come across loads of business coaches - I am sure many of them are very good - but the market must be limited and there seems quite an industry in providing training to become a coach

Most are charlatans. Most train through some really dodgy programmes. Some train through some very expensive and thorough training. Some are brilliant. The brilliant ones tend to be very choosy about which networking events they go to. Don't write off coaching. Find the brilliant ones.

I'm really interested in coaching. How do you find the brilliant ones flowers?

What kind of coaching do you want? ie. what are you looking to improve?

And forgive me for asking, but do you know the difference between mentoring and coaching, and do you know you definitely want a coach?

(And what would you be prepared to pay, per hour/90 minutes? This sets the scene so to speak for your search - it's not the criteria you should use to decide, but I am just being realistic and no point you looking in a particular direction when all of those brilliant ones are out of your budget).

Hi flowers I have had lots of coaching in the past and undertaken probably 8-9 coaching courses myself, but all in the context of coaching as a management style. All of the coaching I've had myself has been organised and paid for by the company I work for. I recently moved jobs and don't have as much access to coaching and it will be strictly work related anyway.

My last coach (life coaching) helped me leave my toxic job. It was so powerful! But as I say, all arranged and paid for by my employers.

I would like to look into some life coaching but not sure where to start. Assuming I'd want at least 6 sessions initially I would probably look to pay just under £100ph (maybe £80ish?)
Thanks!

Sorry, in terms of what I want to improve I want to explore what i really want from life and how I can start to discover that. It would just be the beginning of a journey hopefully!

I don’t want a coach - I just think it looks like the sector is oversupplied and I can’t see the value relative to other things you could spent money on

Be aware that there's a whole industry of MLM/pyramid scheme members that often refer to themselves as Business Coaches.

Steer well clear of those that call themselves things like Global Business and Lifestyle Coach or Business Coach and Mentor - they are no more qualified to be a business coach than my teenage son

Hi Bubblebubblepop - I'm afraid I don't know much about those who call themselves life coaches; but this doesn't mean I don't know about coaches who coach people in aspects of their life. This is a generalisation, but in my experience, those who advertise themselves a 'life coaches' are not as effective (or qualified) as those who advertise themselves as executive coaches/business coaches. Coaching by this latter group always ends up coaching around issues to do with someone's life. Some business coaches advertise themselves as coaches, when they're not - they're really advisers or mentors. Big difference and misleading for clients. Executive coaches tend to be expensive, but have paid a small fortune to qualify in a very good training programme. Business coaches, in my experience, is a title used by lots of people who have trained a little in some lower-level training programme.

If I were looking for a coach in all areas of my life, I would choose an executive coach. Including the area you wish to improve. Good ones are likely to be £300 - £600/hour. You may find someone who has been through one of the top, most highly-regarded programmes (e.g. Meyler Campbell, Ashridge etc) who has not marketed themselves as well as they could, who might charge lower fees.

Hope that helps!

I'm working with a client whose client for this project is in the coaching world - more like life coaching and she is HUGE. Nearly a million followers on SM etc. It's crazy.

The world of Marie Forleo (not my client!!!) has a lot to answer for...

The sector that you are talking about is equally weird, BUT I wouldn't mind a personal mentor who could coach me through decisions about my career direction etc. from time to time.

Yes I think my previous coach must've been an executive coach. I just used the words life coaching to illustrate it's not just work related. £300 an hour would be well out of reach sadly

There will be good coaches for about £100/hour, they may just be harder to find. You sort of have to ask why would an excellent coach charges that when they could charge several multiples more. I met someone once who is well within your budget, she was just very poor at marketing herself, but she was good. You really might find others who are in a similar position.

Check their qualifications, check their approach, make sure they're not one of these "buy a coaching qualification via correspondence course" type of coach, make sure they're not a "buy a folder which teaches them business theory" type of totally mis-named coach, make sure they're not a "I've been through hell, here I am to teach you to get through your hell" coach as such sob stories rarely translate to mean they are effective to help you.

Check out the Institute of Coaching for a starting point.

MsDeerheart
I just think it looks like the sector is oversupplied and I can’t see the value relative to other things you could spent money on

The generic "coaching" sector is getting full. But there are so many levels within it, it would be unfair to the good coaches to group them with the poor ones.

In terms of the value of working with an excellent coach, its worth its weight in gold.