Inspirational Life Guidance (Innovative Life Coaching)

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Look for someone with whom you feel comfortable talking, someone who listens well and whom you feel understands you. Also, be wary of people who are projecting their own issues onto you rather than listening attentively to your experience and addressing your situation in a way that is relevant and helpful to you.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter so much what the person's credentials are. If you don't feel a rapport with the person, you are unlikely to benefit from seeing him/her.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. The title of a person and his/her traditional credentials, such as schooling and so forth, have little to no correlation with the ability of the person to help you in a way that will actually be helpful to you. Look for capability and rapport with you rather than credentials.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. What is your approach, and what tools do you use in your practice?

(See if that approach seems to resonate with what you'd be comfortable with and with your own beliefs.)

What is your philosophy? What led you to this profession? Why do you do this?

(You're trying to get an idea of who this person is and whether you'd feel comfortable talking with him/her about yourself and your life.)

Who usually does most of the talking in a typical session with you: your client or you?

(You may feel more comfortable with one or the other being the case. An ideal answer might include the mentioning that it depends on the client, what the client feels most comfortable with, and the particular session. You want to know that this person will adapt to you as a unique person and to your unique situation.)

What would your clients say that your strengths are in your role in this profession? What would your clients say makes you good at what you do?

(Again, you want to get an idea of whether this is someone you'd feel comfortable talking with and whether you think this person is someone whom you can respect and who can help you.)

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Do you want to go to someone in a more traditional role, like a psychologist, or do you want someone more like a life coach?
Do you prefer that the person be of a certain gender?
Do you want the person to have certain beliefs (religious or otherwise) that might make you feel more comfortable talking with him/her?
Do you want to go to someone or have someone come to you? How far are you willing to travel to see someone?
Around how much do you want to be paying for this service?
What do you wish to accomplish by seeing someone?
What do you want to change about your life?
Also, things to consider, but not necessarily to have thought through completely: What would you be willing to do, give, or change about your life to bring about your desired changes? What do you want from life? What would your ideal life be like?