How to Select a Business Coach

Choosing an executive coach isn't like picking a favorite flavor at Baskin Robbins. Too many leaders choose a Coach based on their company’s approved-vendor list Or even sometimes when they’re volun-told ‘X is going to be your Coach’ Want to pick the right coach? Here are the only questions that matter: 1/ Will they call you on your BS? The best coaches aren't afraid to challenge you. If they're dancing around issues to protect your feelings, they're not serving you. And if you’re believing your own BS - you need them to call you on it. 2/ Do they meet your criteria of credibility? If you’re going to invite this person into your life and trust them with your vulnerability, they best be credible. For many it’s choosing a Coach that has credentials, went through a formal program, and has a stable of clients to draw experience from. Trust your gut and curiosity to round out your ‘credibility criteria’. 3/ Do you like them? Even though this isn’t a popularity contest, if you don’t like your Coach - you’ll dread seeing their name on your calendar. I’ve ‘been there, done that’. 4/ Can they affect change beyond just you? Your growth should cascade through your organization. If they're not thinking about the ripple effect of your development, they're missing the bigger picture. 5/ Will they protect your confidentiality? Trust is non-negotiable. If they won't have direct conversations about boundaries and privacy, run. You’ve got to trust they apply ‘Vegas Rules’ - what said here, stays here. The coach who makes you slightly uncomfortable - who pushes you to confront hard truths - that's often the one you need. Don't pick a coach who tells you what you want to hear. Pick one who tells you what you need to hear. All candor. No BS. —- Hi, I’m Darren Kanthal. Executive Coach and Founder of The Kanthal Group. Follow me for more practical and candid leadership advice.

I started working with a new business coach/strategist a couple months ago. Finding a coach for my next level of success wasn’t easy. I spend over two years searching for a coach that: Didn’t want to force me into a new biz model. Didn’t want to make me use ads for growth. Didn’t sell me some over crammed program with endless meetings that I didn’t need. Didn’t want to change my messaging and brand. My new coach and I met several times before I ever bought from her. Even though I knew I made the right choice, I was still nervous for our first session! Within the first 20 minutes of our initial meeting, I realized I had picked a great partnership for my next level of growth. My coach asked THESE types of questions during our first session: “Tell me what’s working for you, energetically?” “Tell me about your team. What do you love?” “Tell me what your financial goal is for next year?” That last question–well I had some stipulations! “I want to add an additional $250k+ per year in revenue, *if* I do not have to work more than 16 days a month.” She loved and appreciated the clarity and conviction to my #joyfirst lifestyle! I left our session with homework and her insight on how to add $250k to what I’m already doing, without working more than 16 days a month, or doing any of that other stuff I mentioned above. All of this made me think about how many coaches and consultants come to us AFTER they invest in a coach/program that doesn’t work for them. Here at the #JoyfulBusinessRevolution, we want to help you make aligned choices from the start! This means, when you are looking for a coach to partner with, it’s important that you do your homework. Please ask these 8 questions during your interview process: How much are you making a year? How much of that are you keeping? How many days off do you have a year? What do days off look like for you? What’s your business model like? What team do you have to support me if you get sick or need to take time away? Do you have a community I can grow with? How can I test your coaching before I go all in? How do you think you can help me specifically? What skills do you bring to this relationship that compliment what I’m already doing? When you slow the process down and are intentional about entering a true partnership with your next coach, magic happens! Find these questions helpful? Let me know below! <3

Are all career coaches full of s*%t? The $15 billion coaching industry has a dirty secret: it's crawling with charlatans ready to prey on you. How do you separate the snake oil from the real deal? Look out for these red flags: ↳ They're peddling a "foolproof system" that works for everyone from fresh grads to Fortune 500 CEOs. ↳ Their "real-world experience" consists of reading "Never Split the Difference" 17 times or getting fired from a mid-level HR job. ↳ They piggyback other experts' work as their own by bringing them in as guest speakers in their programs. ↳ They advertise $5-$20k group coaching programs on Instagram, TikTok, or their mediocre podcast. ↳ They promise to double your salary or your money back (spoiler: you're not getting your money back). ↳ Their advice sounds great in theory but falls apart faster than wet single ply toilet paper. ↳ They'll create false scarcity and push you through high-pressure sales practices and MLM-style landing page traps. I once had a client who spent thousands on a "negotiation guru" who taught her "power plays" and highly risky word-for-word scripts. Guess what happened in her actual negotiation? She had a $500k annual job offer get RESCINDED for being too aggressive. (We reconciled and corrected, but still, WTF?) So how do you find a coach who isn't just blowing smoke up your... ya you get it... ✅ Look for someone who: ↳  Has a track record in your specific industry (No, watching "Suits" doesn't count as legal negotiation experience). ↳ Is transparent about their methods AND limitations (Anyone claiming to be an expert in everything is an expert in nothing). ↳ Focuses on your unique strengths instead of turning you into a milquetoast robot. ↳ Isn't afraid to tell you when you're wrong (Yes, even if you're paying them). ↳ Will turn you away as a client, but still offer support. Remember, a good coach should make you uncomfortable sometimes. They should push you out of your comfort zone and challenge your assumptions. If your coach is just a yes-person telling you what you want to hear, they're not doing their job – they're just emptying your wallet on retainer. The right coach can be a game-changer for your career. Just make sure you're not swallowing a load of BS along the way. What's been your experience with career coaches? Any horror stories or success stories to share? Let's discuss in the comments!

We've been coaching many of the Whatnot executive and VP team. Their Director of Talent Development Kia Beckford asked us to give guidance for them on, "how should I select a coach from the Elevate Leadership team?" Very oddly, no one has ever asked me this, so I had to think about it 😂 Here are the top four tips I shared: 1️⃣ Seek a coach who can challenge your thinking and broaden your perspective. While someone with experience in your role can be valuable, the most impactful coaching often comes from individuals outside your field. Having someone who asks questions from first principles and an outside perspective can be incredibly impactful. 2️⃣ Regardless of your past experience, select someone whose bio resonates with you. You might feel a connection with someone based on their coaching philosophy or a personal experience they share. When something piques your interest, trust your instincts. 3️⃣ When you meet them, you should feel that you can trust them and open up to them. Being able to be vulnerable is crucial when spending time with your coach. Your biggest breakthroughs and most impactful conversations will occur when you feel you have the space to be yourself. 4️⃣ Ask the coach how they might handle specific topics you're interested in discussing. Examples include how to give feedback, build trust with your team, handle challenging interpersonal situations, and conduct career conversations. For those of you who have hired a coach - what do you look for? #ExecutiveCoaching #Leadership