Written by Danielle Raine, Holistic Creativity Coach
Danielle Raine is a holistic creativity expert and mindset coach for creatives and entrepreneurs. She has been studying the creative process since an epiphany at Art School in 1993 that revealed how to access the flow state.
Coaching changes lives. There's no doubt that coaching is a powerful modality for both personal fulfilment and professional success.
The explosion in the coaching industry in recent years shows just how beneficial a coaching relationship can be, for people from all types of backgrounds. From health and relationship goals, to business success, creative flow and passion projects, coaching can be a fast-track route to our visions, goals and dreams. But with so much choice available, how can we know which is the right coach to choose?
Beyond credentials & results
It may seem as though the coach with the best credentials would be the ideal choice, yet this isn't always the case. Your options may begin with the coaches who can deliver the results you're seeking, yet the ideal coaching relationships go way beyond the practical aspects.
As both a coach and a coachee many times over, I've learned that a coaching relationship is special. It can be a deep and soulful connection, and as such, there are many subtle factors which play an important role in the success of the partnership.
Aspects such as personality, the bonding of like-minded souls, and the pleasure of a supportive coaching experience are all features of choosing an aligned coach.
Plus, whenever humans work together toward a common goal, there's an opportunity for a synergy that’s greater than the individuals combined. This is the Mastermind Factor that's been the secret behind so many success stories – perhaps most famously identified by Napoleon Hill in his classic book, Think & Grow Rich.
In choosing an aligned coach, there's the opportunity to tap into this mysterious magic and enjoy results far greater than either party may expect. This is why there's more to coaching than simply hiring the person who can get you the desired results.
So it can be worth investing a little extra due diligence beforehand in order to maximise the subtle factors that can yield such powerful results. After all, the most successful coaching partnerships are often described as ‘life-changing’ and ‘transformational’ – evidence that hiring a coach is often about far more than merely ticking the box of goals achieved.
If you'd like to tap into the full potential of an aligned and enjoyable coaching experience, here are some things to look out for as you consider your next coach.
“In order to fulfil your vision, others will need to help you.” – Grace Smith
Choosing an aligned coach: 5 Things to look for
Personality
Once you've found a coach who can help you with your desired outcome, one of the most important factors to consider is whether you resonate with their personality.
A coaching relationship is a deeply personal connection – you may tell them things about yourself that you've never told anyone else. To fully establish this close bond, it's vital that you and your coach get on. You don't need to become best friends, in fact, sometimes it's better to not become too pally, but there at least needs to be mutual affinity and respect.
If you're considering a coach who is getting amazing results, yet something about their personality doesn't feel quite right for you, chances are they're not the most aligned option. You may get some results, but you may miss out on the magic and potential benefits of a more aligned coaching experience.
There are many coaches out there, it's not necessary to work with just anyone who can help you reach your goals. Holding out for a more aligned personality is a way to both affirm your self-worth and get the most from your coaching investment.
Core values
Once you've found a coach who can deliver the results you're seeking, and you feel you could have an enjoyable working relationship, another aspect to consider is their core values.
What's important to them? Are those things important to you? And do they value the things that matter in your life?
Considering this aspect will help you avoid hiring a coach that can get you the results you want but asks that you do things that aren’t in alignment for you.
For example, a potential coach may have great credentials, yet they may be committed to an extreme work ethic. While there's no absolute right or wrong when it comes to work-life balance, you may be in a phase of your life when you value a less intense approach. Perhaps you're raising children, on a healing journey, or exploring a slower pace of life.
Alternatively, you may be keen to dive in headfirst with your new business obsession and you want that kind of intensity. In this case, a coach whose core values are a relaxed and surrendered approach may not be the right fit. Or perhaps you value a spiritual approach or a humanitarian perspective, in which case an aligned coach would need to have similar core values.
Again, there's no right or wrong, it’s about finding the best match for the aspects that matter to you.
“I am on the hunt for who I have not yet become.” – Pauline Nguyen
Vision, mission & purpose
Choosing a coach who has a similar vision can be inspiring for both parties. Beyond the immediate results of your work together, it can be good to look at the bigger picture, so that you can both see how the work can support your ultimate success.
When both coach and coachee have an aligned mission or purpose, this can add an extra dimension to the partnership, one that can fuel the work in ways not possible if your visions aren't well matched.
It's not essential to always have exactly the same vision as your coach – ideally, your coach will open you up to exciting new perspectives that you haven’t yet experienced on your own. But considering the type of mission or purpose that calls their heart can be a good indicator of whether they’ll be a great fit for you.
“We buy into the mission and the belief system behind the people we work with.” – Calvin Corelli
Worldview
This aspect is often overlooked but it can have a subtle yet significant impact, with a ripple effect that plays out in your life for many years.
According to spiritual writer Deepak Chopra, our subconscious mind is formed by the people we spend our time with. Given that the subconscious mind plays such a large part in our behaviour and success, it's important to consider whose voices we surround ourselves with – because they’ll shape us, in invisible yet powerful ways.
So, before considering a potential coach, give some thought as to whether you'd like their worldview to rub off on you. How do they see the world? Do you want to see the world that way? Do you resonate with their philosophy of life and business?
Maybe they're of the Struggle & Sacrifice school of success – is that a belief system you want to adopt, even if it gets results? Or perhaps they believe that joyless discipline is the only way to succeed. Is that a worldview you want to integrate into your psyche?
Alternatively, being around the energy of someone who has a belief system that feels empowering can be a great way to uplevel your own worldview. If you're considering a coach and you would love their faith in humanity or their conviction in personal power, working closely with them will undoubtedly shape your own perspective along similar lines.
The people we spend our time with influence our view of life. Studies also show that we are influenced more strongly by people in positions of authority or esteem. So, it's worth considering how a potential coach's belief system may impact yours, ideally in positive and beneficial ways.
“Your tomorrows are determined by your concept of yourself.” – Dr Joseph Murphy
Modality
One final aspect to consider is whether the coaching modality is ideally suited to your preferences or lifestyle. For example, does your prospective coach thrive on in-person sessions? If this is your preferred mode of support, this would be a great match. However, if you feel you open up more comfortably over the phone, you’re more likely to do well with a coach who works primarily over calls.
Or perhaps they prefer to offer Email Coaching. This can be of particular benefit to more introverted clients or those who prefer the written word to phone calls or meetings. Many coaches offer a range of options for working together, so take time to explore the options that feel right for you.
The modality is one more thing to consider in aiming to get the most from your coaching experience. Even if the coach is perfect in every other way, if they prefer to work in a way that you don't enjoy, they may not be the most aligned choice.
Finding your most aligned coach
The above aspects are just a few extra things to consider as you think about hiring a coach. It's not necessary to have the perfect scenario in every category, and some may be more or less important to you than others. What matters is that the aspects which are important to you are a part of your decision.
So how do you find out more about your prospective coach beforehand? Thanks to the internet, this kind of due diligence is easier than ever.
Coach research
Unless you feel an undeniable pull to dive into a new coaching relationship, it's a great idea to spend some time in your potential coach's world before you commit to a long-term connection.
The easiest way to do this is to follow them online. Where are they most active? Where are they pouring their creative energy? If they're on social media, such as Instagram or Facebook, keep an eye on their posts or stories for a while.
If they have a YouTube channel, you can easily dip into their videos and see if you feel a deepening connection to their approach. If you feel that you want to binge-watch all their content, that's a good sign that you've found your person!
If they're more into podcasts, you could spend some time browsing their playlist – even just reviewing the titles may give you a sense of whether this coach is aligned with your vision and purpose.
Or your prospective coach may be more of a writer who loves to share their wisdom via a blog or newsletter. This makes it easy for you to spend some time in their written work and get to know their work on a deeper level, or learn more about their personality over time.
It may also be possible to take a baby step towards a more formal coaching commitment. For example, they may have an online course with Q&A support, where you can get to know more about them and how they like to coach and teach. Chances are good that if you love their courses you'll have a good connection in a closer coaching arrangement.
Your prospective coach may even offer single sessions or hot-seat coaching experiences. These are a great way to sample their coaching first-hand, before choosing a longer-term option or one-to-one programme. Some coaches even offer a Starter Kit, to give you a sample taster of the coaching experience with them as your guide.
And finally, you can always get in touch with them directly. Reach out and share what you’re hoping to achieve. The best coaches will advise you honestly as to whether they’re likely to be a good fit.
Trust your intuition
Hopefully, these insights will help you to consider the various aspects of a successful and enjoyable coaching experience, one that achieves the exciting outcomes you desire, but also offers a transformational experience above and beyond the original goal.
While it can certainly pay to do a little homework before making your choice, with something as personal as a coaching relationship, there comes a time when research and logic aren't the only factors.
As intuitive beings, we can check in with our intuition or gut instinct and decide whether the choice feels like the aligned option. Going beyond the question Can they help me?, this is an opportunity to ask; How do they make me feel?
Do they ignite a spark in your heart with their talk of what’s possible? Does their take on the topic inspire you?
Do you feel a pull to their rock-solid certainty in areas you’d like more faith? Does their energy make you feel good about yourself?
Are they engaging and enjoyable to spend time with?
If you feel called to their work and the prospect of their support appeals to you – even if you can't explain it – there's likely a reason. You may not be able to articulate precisely why they feel like the right fit for you, and they may not tick all the boxes mentioned above, but if you feel a strong affinity or connection with them, it’s likely they have something that will benefit you in some way.
You can always take heart in knowing that every coaching experience will teach you something, and what may seem like a mistake or unsatisfactory experience at the time will seem perfect when you look back on it in the future. As Steve Jobs so famously said, you can only join the dots looking back.
Over to you
I hope these insights will help you make some great choices when it comes to choosing your next coach. Because coaching, done well, can be an uplifting, inspiring and life-enhancing experience for both the client and the coach.
Whether you're focused on improving your life or your career, if you're looking to hire the support you need to get to the next level, considering these aspects will help to ensure you not only achieve your intended uplevel and enjoy your coaching experience, but also receive the transformational experience that coaching has become famous for.
Good luck finding your aligned coach!
And enjoy discovering what's possible for you in your next evolution of growth and success.
Danielle
For more tips and ideas for aligned success, help yourself to these Free Coaching Tools for Creatives
Danielle Raine, Holistic Creativity Coach
Danielle Raine is a holistic creativity expert and mindset coach for creatives and entrepreneurs.
She has been studying the creative process since an epiphany at Art School in 1993 that revealed how to access the flow state.
For three decades, she's been working and experimenting in the creative fields of design, blogging, publishing, marketing, tech, and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the nature of inspiration and flow productivity.
Her speciality is a wellness-based, feel-good approach to creative fulfilment and success, along with an enduring theme of enjoying the journey as much as possible.
Through her coaching, courses, books, and blogs, her mission is to share the simple, practical tools that create rapid shifts and inspiring results, so that her clients, students, and readers can do more of the work they love to do, and bring their most exciting creative visions to life.
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