What are the characteristics and skills of a good coach?
The top 5 qualities of a good coach
Whether you're an entrepreneur or a manager, there's a lot to be said for having a coach. Coaches help us reach our goals by giving us advice and support, showing us the way, giving us feedback, and making us responsible for our actions.
But what exactly makes someone a good coach? And how do you know if someone is qualified to coach others in your organization? As it turns out, there are many different characteristics that make someone great at their job as a coach—and they're not necessarily what you might think!
What makes a good coach?
Successful coaches should have the following foundational skills:
A coaching philosophy: This is the foundation on which coaches build all future interactions with clients. It should be based on facts and supported by evidence that makes sense to those receiving it (in other words, not just something that sounds good or intuitive).
A coaching style: This is the way coaches interact with others, including how they communicate and their approach to addressing issues.
Based on their coaching style and philosophy, good coaches use effective coaching tools to get results.
A good coach knows that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to coaching. They use a variety of tools, including:
Coaching questions: Coaches ask questions to help you explore your situation and find solutions for yourself. They are usually open-ended and invite you to share more about what you're experiencing. These can help you discover your own thoughts and feelings about a situation.
Coaching statements: These give people perspective on what's really happening in their lives, rather than letting them get stuck in their own views or assumptions about it.
Coaching actions: You can use these to help others see things differently, reframe situations, or create new solutions for problems that don't seem to have any answers left at all!
Coaching reflection: Coaches reflect back what they think you're saying so you know they're listening—and because it's sometimes easier to hear ourselves when someone else repeats what we said! It also shows respect for each person's unique point of view by pointing out something worth talking about before moving on to more important topics.
Let's take a closer look at the top five qualities you should look for in a good coach!
1. Has work experience and specific qualifications for coaching.
The first thing to understand is that there is no universally accepted certification, degree, experience, or qualification for coaches. While some coaches may have relevant work experience, others may have studied and gained their qualifications through a coaching institute. As such, it’s best to check these things when looking for a coach:
Specific qualifications: What are the specific qualifications of your potential coach? Are they already working as a coach? How long have they been working as a coach? Do they have any coaching certifications? Is their coaching certificate from an accredited program? These are all questions you should ask before hiring someone as a coach. Again, answers will be varied, and it's likely your coach will not check all the boxes, but that doesn't mean they are unqualified. Be discerning and go with your gut.
Relevant work experience: What kind of work experience does your potential coach have? Do they have any experience working with a similar industry or business model as yours? Do they specialize in certain areas or provide one-size-fits-all solutions? Again, there is no right answer here. You just need to find someone who can help you reach your goals.
Measurable results: Coaching is not just about helping you get results; it's also about making sure that you are able to keep those results after the coaching ends. For this reason, it’s important to find a coach who has experience working with clients who have similar goals and challenges as yours.
2. Is perceptive and upbeat.
A good coach is observant and positive.
A good coach will be observant of your needs, assets, and goals. They will be able to see where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there. They may not always agree with your decisions or methods of achieving goals, but they will be supportive and help guide you in the right direction.
A good coach is positive and upbeat. A good coach will be positive, not negative. They will help you focus on your strengths and abilities, not your weaknesses. If they do point out something that needs improvement, they will do so in a constructive way that helps you grow as an individual. They will be able to find the positives in every situation and help you build on those strengths.
3. Has integrity, emotional intelligence, and empathy.
A good coach will have integrity and be able to connect with you on an emotional level, which means they need to have empathy.
Integrity: A good coach has integrity. This means that they are honest and dependable. They do what they say they will do or strive to make things right if they don't. A bad coach might promise one thing but then change their mind later with no regard for how it affects others.
Emotional intelligence: Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions as well as those of others. A good coach knows what their emotions are telling them about situations, people, and situations so that they can always act appropriately by using good judgment when needed instead of letting emotion control them too much (or not enough).
Empathy: This is similar in some ways to emotional intelligence because it also involves being able to understand another person's perspective, but empathy goes beyond simply seeing things from another person's point of view—it requires being able to feel what someone else feels emotionally so you can relate more fully with them!
4. Has a deep understanding of the subject matter or area of focus.
A good coach must have a thorough understanding of the subject or area with which they are working.
A coach who does not understand the topic or content area in which they are coaching cannot be expected to help you understand it and thus cannot be effective. Knowing your area of focus is important for a good coach because it allows them to answer any questions you may have about that subject and explain things in simple terms so that you can understand them more easily.
5. Is inspiring and motivating.
A good coach is motivating and inspiring.
This means that the coach finds ways to motivate their client, from giving them constructive feedback to having them visualize themselves achieving their goals. They inspire by telling stories or anecdotes to get the client thinking about what they truly want in life or by showing them how the best coaches learn from their mistakes and grow as people over time.
Final thoughts on the characteristics and skills of a good coach.
The skills and characteristics of a good coach are varied and diverse. However, there are some key traits that all coaches should have. Whether you are looking for a coach or trying to learn how to coach someone else, these skills can help you get what you want from the relationship. You will be more successful as a result.
