How to Choose a Mentor Coach Who Helps You Achieve Extraordinary Results
You’re either born with it or you’re not. Is that how you feel? Born with what? We used to think that people were born to be leaders or speakers, to be influential, to be people persons, and to be skilled at getting things done. But even worse, we also thought that characteristics like artistic talent, creativity, honesty, or emotional openness came easily to special people born with those characteristics, and the rest of us were destined for dull, ordinary lives.
Has this thinking tainted your life and happiness?
Because now we know differently. We all have the potential to be anything, to do anything, if we only put in the work and develop the necessary skills. We know there are skills to improve our external and internal world if we open our hearts and eyes to honestly see, accept, and then compassionately discipline ourselves at each stage of our journey.
This outdated thinking has narrowed our vision. We say “I can’t” before we’ve tried. We’re convinced of limitations and comfort zones that restrict our growth. What can help us to break through these blinders? How can we know what skill to apply in each situation? That’s where coaches, teachers, and mentors can help!
How to Choose a Mentor Coach or Certified Life Coach Who’s Right for You
I was born in a country where revered Masters perfected their craft… Michelangelo, Leonardo di Vinci, Raffaello, Flavio Manzoni – Ferrari designer, Franco Scaglioni – Lamborghini designer, Roberto Giolito – Fiat designer, Valentino, Armani, Versace, Gucci, to mention only a few. People from around the world come to study their work, so they can improve their own techniques. It influenced me to be open to life-long learning and continual self-improvement, to search for the skills that others have mastered, so I can express them in my unique way. My most recent endeavor is becoming a Mentor Coach through ICF. I believe everyone, including you, can apply what you learn from others to master your desired skills.
Therefore, it’s vital to choose a coach who daily uses the skills you want to learn. Knowing how to choose a Mentor Coach isn’t primarily based on if your personalities click, although that’s ideal. It’s also not always about what schools they attend, although this shows they’ve been exposed to opportunities to learn valuable skills. And while certifications and credentials are significant indicators that they’ve put in the time to learn skills, the main thing is… do they now easily practice the skills you desire to learn.
And how do you know that about someone you’ve never met? Talk with the coach you’re thinking of hiring! Give her scenarios and ask how she would coach you through them. Ask what skills and competencies she would apply in each different situation. When you have a free consultation, you’re interviewing her and she’s interviewing you to see if you’re a good fit for each other. So when you talk with your prospective Mentor Coach:
- be prepared to discuss the skill(s) you want to target, and
- have firmly in mind the reasons why these skills are important to you.
- If you haven’t identified the skill(s) you need, have a few examples of things you want to improve.
I’m dedicated to learning skills and using them to improve myself and help others to do the same. That’s what makes me happy and fulfilled. To that end, I’ve become very involved in the International Coaching Federation and I’ve worked to become an ICF Mentor Coach. It’s a perfect fit for where I am in my journey. Now I can help fellow ICF members complete a rigorous credentialing process designed to develop and refine their coaching skills. And I’m incorporating my refined coaching skills into my Somatic Coaching sessions.
Am I writing this to toot my own horn? While I am proud of what I’ve accomplished, I write this to reassure and inspire you that if a girl from humble beginnings can achieve her dreams, so can you. It’s been my dream to reach people around the globe, and I’m thrilled to be working with motivated women from the U.S. Canada, Britain, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Australia. If you’d like to explore your possibilities, feel free to contact me, so we can discuss how working together can help you achieve your dreams.
Thank you for the pottery photo Anne Nygård