There is nothing worse than being burned by a coach. I hear about it all the time and I’ve had it happen to me. It can feel like you’ve made a bad investment, and it can sour you towards hiring a coach again. But maybe, knowing what didn’t work for you, and with the help of a different approach, you can find a truly excellent coach who can get you the results you want!

What has your experience with coaches been like?

The other day, a friend reached out to me to get my opinion about a coach she was thinking of hiring. She was cautious because she’d just finished an expensive program and got nothing out of it. Of course she was hesitant to jump into another program!

I’ve been burned too! Several times. But I’ve also had some incredible coaches that have made a huge difference in my personal life, my sports outcomes, and my business. 

It takes research to find a great coach

So how do you determine whether a coach is legit? Well, you have to do your research. Check their credentials, but also do some research into their personality and teaching style. That means doing what my friend did and asking around. It also means checking out their social media to see how they communicate their ideas. 

Next, check out their free content. Whether it’s a webinar, a blog, or a masterclass, download it, open it up, and see if it’s useful.

Then interview them. Meet them in person or over Zoom and ask them about their programs. Find out if they have a system in place and how their programs work.

Look out for the Red Flags!

For the most part, when you do your homework, you can trust your gut. But if you’ve been burned before, maybe you’re not ready to trust your gut. So let’s talk about some red flags that maybe you’ve missed in the past.

Red Flag #1: No testimonials or public recommendations. If you don’t have someone in your network that you can get an opinion from, and if you can’t find any previous clients who rave about them, you can always ask them for a reference you can speak to. But if they don’t have anyone to point you towards, that’s a red flag.

Red Flag #2: No focus on “the how.” You want a coach with knowledge and expertise. And I find that the most knowledgeable coaches teach you how to create something for yourself. A red flag coach will want to send you content or templates instead of teaching you how to do it for yourself.

Red Flag #3: Inflexibility. Some coaches have set programs and others individually tailor their services, and both of those approaches are fine. But if you need a personalized strategy, beware of programs that lean heavily on templates or one-size-fits all strategies.

Red Flag #4: The hard sell. Most coaches are, on some level, a salesperson. But a great coach will put candor first. They’ll be honest about what they can do for you and if it’s not a good fit, they’ll let you know because they don’t want to waste your time (or theirs). Look out for a coach that continues to sell to you even when it doesn’t seem like a good match.

Red Flag #5: Too good to be true. I offer a 100% guarantee that if you don’t succeed toward your goal, I’ll work with you for free until you do. But the caveat to that guarantee is that you are going to be putting in a lot of work and dedication. Stay away from any coach that promises quick success with little to no effort. It sounds too good to be true, because it is.

At the end of the day, coaching is invaluable. No matter the area of your life you’re looking to change or improve, with the right coach, you’ll go farther faster. If you’ve been burned by coaching programs in the past, don’t let that hold you back because there are truly excellent coaches out there! Do your research, reach out to your network for second opinions, and be on the lookout for red flags. You can find a coach that streamlines the process, holds you accountable, and offers you the confidence you need along the way. 

If you’re looking for all of that in a fitness coach, then schedule a call with me. Let’s see if my programs are a good fit for you!