The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Coach
FAQs about Coaching and the Noomii Coach Recommendation System
You’ve Requested a Coach Recommendation. What Happens Next?
1. We’ll follow-up to make sure we have all the right information
After you submit your request for a coach, one of our coaching matching experts may follow up with you to confirm your request and ask any further questions they may have.
If you think you have left out important information that will help us choose the right coach for you, contact customer support.
2. We’ll hand-pick coaches that are ideal for you
To help us choose a coach for you, we leverage the data we collect on each coach (their location, coach specialization, coaching track record, etc…) AND the judgement of a well trained coach matching expert.
Although we have thousands of coaches in more than 50 countries, we only recommend coaches with whom we have built a relationship. Every coach we recommend is vetted with a 30-minute phone call with one of our coach matching experts.
We have been improving our process since 2009 and in that span of time, we have matched thousands of clients with hundreds of different coaches all over the globe.
What our clients have to say about the Referral Program:
"I did find a coach to meet my exact needs. Each coach you recommended has enough information for me to easily decide which one best-suited me and then the free initial consult helped also. You are a great and reliable resource for life coaches."
Linda from Florida
"I had a very positive experience with Noomii's Referral Program. I was able to find a good match from the recommendation list. Thank you!"
Xiaxun from Baltimore, Maryland
"If anything, I've had too many excellent referrals :-) I like every single coach I've spoken to. Thank you – this is an amazing Referral Program. I am very happy with the results."
Lucy from Connecticut
3. Your recommended coaches will reach out to you to offer a free consultation
Once we have all the information we need, we recommend one to three coaches for you. With each recommendation, you will receive an email introducing you to the coach. At the same time, the coaches we recommend are supplied your contact details so they can reach out to you to arrange a free consultation.
All the coaches we recommend will offer at least a 15-minute consultation with no cost or further obligation.
If you are not satisfied with the quantity or quality of your coach recommendations, simply click on the "request more coaches" button on your request or contact customer support.
About Coaching
What is coaching?
Everyday millions of people make short lived attempts at overcoming everything from procrastination to credit card debt. Like most people, at one point or another, you have probably vowed to go to the gym or make regular sales calls? You start with enthusiasm and then you quit.
Why do you quit? What is missing is human accountability and support. That's where coaching comes in. A coach helps you overcome obstacles, supports you in creating an action plan, and holds you accountable to the steps you need to take to achieve what you really want in your life, career, or business.
According to Jack Canfield, the author of the popular book Chicken Soup for the Soul, “the single greatest thing that you can do to ensure your success is to participate in some form of coaching program.” There is only one thing that all of the most successful business executives, movie stars, and athletes have in common. It’s that they all have coaches.
In the past 20 years, coaching has taken off and is now a $10 billion dollar industry. But it’s not just a growing fad. Research being conducted at distinguished educational institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Medical School are concluding what coaches have known all along – that coaching works.
In a global coaching client research study conducted by the International Coach Federation in 2009, 96% of clients indicated that they would repeat the coaching experience given the same circumstances that led them there in the first place. Clients gained self-confidence, more work-life balance, better careers, and improved business management skills.
The most common reasons for hiring a coach
Whatever your goals are, whether you want to improve your personal life, enhance your career, or take your business to the next level, coaching can work for you.
The most common request on Noomii is from individuals seeking a life coach to help them improve their career. Either they are out of a job, want to change careers, or pursue their passion. Often, the clients we serve have been in a career for a number of years (as an accountant, nurse, IT manager, etc...) and are now looking for more meaningful and fulfilling work. They may be considering changing companies, applying for a different role within their existing organization, or starting their own business.
We also get requests from individuals who need help with: general life issues - dealing with overwhelm, overcoming procrastination, building self-confidence relationship issues - spousal conflicts, finding a partner, overcoming divorce business challenges - lead generation, succession planning, employee retention being a better executive and leader
No matter what challenges you are facing, we can find the right coach for you.
Coaching vs. Therapy: What’s the difference?
A common misconception is that coaching is the same as therapy, when in fact they are quite different. Therapy is intended to help people recover from emotional or other psychological disorders such as depression or anxiety. Coaching, on the other hand, is intended to help normal, healthy individuals achieve personal goals such as increased happiness, weight loss, improved work-life balance, etc….
Think of it this way. Therapy helps people who are struggling with a psychological disorder live more normal lives. Coaching helps everyday people live extraordinary lives.
If you’re not sure if coaching is the right solution for you, you may want to consult a licensed therapist or physician.
Choosing a Coach
Why the best coach is not always in your neighborhood?
Many people look for a coach the same way they would search for a dentist, physiotherapist, or lawyer. The expectation is that there is going to be a service provider nearby.
The problem is that coaching is still a relatively new profession and in many cases, there is not a coach in your neighbourhood. If there is a coach in your neighbourhood, it may not be the best fit.
While we do our best to find you a great fitting local coach that you can meet in person, we may recommend coaches outside of your area. To overcome geographic barriers, most coaches offer coaching over the phone or video conferencing. It saves you time, is more convenient, and can be equally effective.
What is the cost of coaching?
Most life coaches charge somewhere between $75 and $150 per hour, however, they may offer monthly packages with discounts. The typical coaching engagement lasts between three and four months and costs between $1000 and $2000.
If you can not afford coaching, some coaches offer a sliding scale or hold a couple spots on their roster for pro-bono clients who are deeply committed to the process.
What are the coaching credentials?
To date, coaching is unregulated. Coaches are not required to write an exam or be members of a professional association to practice as a coach.
However, there are a number of governing bodies that are trying to develop enforceable standards. The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the largest governing body for coaching and has over 20,000 members worldwide. On Noomii, if a coach has an ICF credential, we verify it with the ICF and then display the credential on their profile (ACC, PCC, or MCC).
In all cases, you should confirm that the coach you hire has adequate education, training, and experience to help you with your goals.
What to Expect During Coaching
Frequency of coaching sessions
Ideally, coaching sessions can be conducted weekly but that’s a detail that you can discuss with your coach. Some people opt to have coaching only once every two weeks or even once per month. It largely depends on your time constraints and budget.
How much accountability and “homework” is there?
It varies. Some coaches will provide a lot of “homework” while others require nothing more than the commitments you make at the end of the call. If you are going to hire a coaches, it’s best that you be prepared to put in time and effort to achieve your goals. As Thomas Edison says “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
How long does coaching last?
Some clients work with their coach for years and continue to get great value with every session. It depends on the type of coaching you are receiving. If you want to transition to a new job or career, coaching may only last a month. If you receive coaching to get through a divorce, the engagement might last a year or so, depending on how much support you need. If you work with an executive coach on being a better leader, you can benefit from coaching for years.
From the data we collect on Noomii, the average coaching engagement is roughly six months.