Who do you trust as a coach time for some honesty

You have taken the decision to hire a business coach? And now you want to find one and you realise;

"How the hell do I find the right one", "how do I know if they are qualified" .

Yes, it is a nightmare, and yes, there are people out there who have undertaken a day or week course and now consider themselves to be the next taker of a seat on Dragon's Den.

Just as teacher a needs to be qualified and a trainer too, you would expect a coach needs to also be.

Well that's the shame, they don't, not always.

I will make myself unpopular here with all the coaches who have decided they don't like their job anymore, decide to spend a couple of grand on a course and a certificate and now consider they are perfectly placed and qualifed.

Frankly they aren't a coach with experience. They are a coach, who has no doubt worked hard to pass a course but they just aren't the experienced professional who will save you from decisions you shouldn't make, and guide you to success.

In recent months, I have met coaches that held 9 different jobs in 5 years, coaches that claim to be a life coach after a two day course. Coaches that "do it on the side" for a bit of pocket money.

What you should want, is an industry served, professional. An accountable and knowledge individual, who you are going to hand over the hard earned cash to, and expect expertise and experience in return.

A good coach will be busy, they will have a reputation. They will have testimonials. They will offer a free session first to you, to meet you, to assess your goals and requirements, to understand, *wait for it*, if they even want to work with you.

They will have no problem in sharing their CV with you, talking about their qualifications, their experience, their area of expertise.

You should interview them. You are about to give them your money and your trust.

Don't be shy, GRILL THEM !, you are paying for a service and you should get value for money.

I have some fantastic colleagues in the coaching industry, some absolutely brilliant, productive and inspiring people that can, as any committed coach does, as I do, help you release your potential and get to your goal.

Top tips To Find a Coach

*Research the coach on line

*Email them, ask for a list of their qualifications

*Explain what assistance you are looking for- does their experience match

*Ask to see a copy of their CV

*Ask them for a referral client you can call idependantly -

(point to note here, some Coaches will not give this detail, their client relationships are confidential and they may need to seek permission from an existing client first.)

*Do they offer a free initial consultation

*How long is their average working relationship- you need to plan your finances

Not one of the questions above would concern an experienced and confident coach.

In fact, the opposite, they will be impressed at your diligence.

Exactly the kind of commitment a coach wants to see in a client, one they want to work with.

You wouldn't give the keys to your Ferrari to a driver that passed their test a day ago, so please don't give your business, hope, trust and dreams to a coach that, even with the best of intentions, has the potential to cause a crash in your life or business.

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The psychologists' guide to networking

The idea of #introducing themselves to a room of strangers fills many business owners with dread. They know networking is important for growing their business, however they loathe it all the same. But what is it that makes people feel so uncomfortable ?

Paul Russell is the co-founder of #training company Luxury Academy and has an MSc in occupational psychology. He says people get nervous before networking events because of a fear of rejection. The danger is that this fear can itself create an awkward situation.

“It’s human nature to visualise what will happen in the future. It is part of our internal self-preservation #mechanism to imagine what will happen in a difficult or frightening situation,” Russell says. “But those who perceive #themselves as socially anxious are more likely to imagine or predict that they will embarrass themselves in hypothetical stressful social situations. The challenge with this is that it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Dr Lynda Shaw works as a cognitive neuroscientist and psychologist, advising business people and #entrepreneurs. She says fear releases stress hormones, which play havoc with the cognitive functions that are crucial to networking success. “Fear causes cortisol to be released into the brain, which makes it harder to think creatively and remember things,” she says.

However, the prognosis isn’t as bad as it sounds. For those who feel they are forever about to make a faux pas, psychologists have made a discovery that should bring some comfort. The “pratfall effect”, first popularised by Harvard University psychologist Elliot Aronson, shows that displays of weakness and fallibility make us more likeable.

Richard Shotton, deputy head of evidence at media agency Manning GottliebOMD, agrees that a touch of modesty will go a long way at networking event, but warns that there are limits to this technique. “The weakness shouldn’t involve your core competence – that would be like a restaurant admitting its food tastes bad. Also, if you do admit a weakness, you need to have already established a general level of competence. Aronson’s experiment showed that while successful people who admitted a weakness became more appealing, those who were [already] seen as incompetent beforehand became less appealing.”

Shotton says admitting weakness is the basis of many advertising campaigns, but the choice of confession is highly tactical. The “good things come to those that wait” campaign by drinks brand Guinness is a good example. “It’s best to admit a weakness that is the mirror image of your strength. Guinness may take longer to pour but boy, it’s worth it,” he says.

#Making conversation

One of the hardest parts of networking is entering the room and knowing where to start. Shaw tends to head for the drinks table, where many conversations are naturally struck up. However, if that fails, she suggests scanning the room and observing the body language of those present. “If people are in a tight huddle then they don’t want to be disturbed. But if you see two people facing outwards, it should be fairly easy to join them,” she says.

The worst thing that can happen is you don't make a connection and you never see these people again

Christine Buske Shaw suggests reading up on news and events prior to the event to ensure you have a few things to talk about. She’ll also admit she “doesn’t know anyone here” and says this can often create a “me too” response, or the offer of a few introductions.

Remember, she adds, not every conversation is crucial. A few light-hearted meetings and shared jokes can help get you in the right frame of mind and make the event more productive. “As you enjoy yourself, your brain releases dopamine, the motivator, and serotonin, the happy chemical. Others will also enjoy your company more,” says Shaw.

Russell teaches a three-pronged approach to networking called the ARE strategy, which stands for anchor, reveal and encourage. Find common ground with someone (anchor), reveal something about yourself and encourage others to talk. “Everyone’s favourite subject is themselves,” he adds.

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Dr Christine Buske has lectured in neuroscience and studied behavioural psychology and is now product manager at academic social media platform Mendeley. She says, until her early 20s, she was incredibly shy and was afraid of public speaking and mixer events. However, Buske’s career ambitions forced her to confront her anxieties until she became “desensitised”. Though introverts will always feel some trepidation at networking meetings, she says, practice will help them perform better.

“You can’t change your personality, but you can change your behaviour and your reactions to a given situation,” says Buske. “If you are very nervous about networking, the best thing you can do is to do more of it.

“Adults at business meetings don’t normally laugh at people. The worst thing that can happen is that you don’t make a connection and you never see these people again.”

#Dos

• #Preparation can help overcome anxiety. Get a list of attendees, do some research on those you want to meet beforehand and read up on recent news and events.

• Think #positively and relax. Remember the worst case scenario of a networking event is not that bad.

• Make the #aim of the event helping others and making connections. “Humans are social creatures and we herd together for mutual benefit. If someone helps us, we feel bound to repay the favour,” Buske says.

• Be #prepared to admit that you don’t know anyone and be open to revealing shortcomings, especially if it implies a strength.

• Practise.

#Don’ts

• #Talk about #yourself all night. No one wants to listen to the self-obsessed.

• Hand out business cards without good reason. “Take my card” is a cliche, only hand them to people you want to meet again.

• '#Forget to listen. Showing interest in others is key as it makes the speakers feel good and enables us to learn.

• #Remain in a huddle with people you know. It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone but you will not make new contacts.

• #Forget to follow up. If you say you are going to call then you should. People respect those who are true to their word.

• Credit -#Guardianfeatures

Write the best CV

#Employers receive an average of 60 applicants for every advertisement for a low-skilled job, and 20 for every skilled job.

Significantly, almost half of these candidates are perfectly suitable for the role, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

So that makes their #CV - or curriculum vitae - all the more important when attempting to stand out from the crowd.

Experts say there are some golden rules for getting a CV correct, not least accuracy, spelling and grammar.

Don't repeat the mistakes, they say, of a lawyer who stressed his "dew diligence", or the applicant who ignored commas when describing his interests as "cooking dogs and interesting people".

Key points

#Applicants will often need to complete an application and send a CV

If sending a CV as a hard copy, along with a job application, then it needs to be neat and typed if possible. Most libraries have public computers which can be used by those who do not have their own.

Increasingly, applicants are asked to send a digital copy of a CV. If this is the case then the first set of "eyes" to see it might be an automated search for key words, so experts suggest applicants ensure mandatory requirements in the job advert are included in a CV.

Corinne Mills, managing director of Personal Career Management, which provides career coaching, says that digital CVs should be in a simple format and font so readability is not affected on different screens.

Other tips from Mrs Mills, the CIPD, and the National Careers Service include:

• Tailor a CV to a specific job - it is vital to ensure the script is relevant to each job application, rather than sending the same #generic CV

• Keep it #simple - it should be easy to read and use active language.

• Two pages of A4 is enough with a mini profile included in the first half page

• Include key information - personal details, including name, address, phone number, email address and any professional social media presence should be clear.

• A date of birth is no longer needed, owing to age discrimination rules.

• A photo is only essential for jobs such as acting and modelling, otherwise it is a matter of choice

• Showcase #achievements - offer evidence of how targets were exceeded and ideas created, but always be honest

• Check and double check - avoid sloppy errors, take a fresh look the next day and ask for a second opinion from a trusted friend or colleague

#Desperate measures

Dan Conway, 29, from Newcastle, spent four years after university searching for a permanent job in his chosen field of marketing.

Frustrated while moving in and out of temporary jobs, he decided he needed to stand out from other candidates. He took extreme measures.

His 17 job-seeking stunts included standing in a busy street with "Employ me" written across his chest, making home videos featuring his daughter, and promoting his cause at the gravy wrestling championships.

He charted his efforts on a website, which quickly gained attention. He says some of his stunts went viral on the internet and he soon received interest from employers.

He now works for one of those companies who got in touch - Vitamins Direct - as head of web sales and online marketing.

Changing CVs

Mrs Mills says it is important that applicants put modesty aside and show self-confidence in their CV.

"If you are not confident about your skills and abilities then why should an employer have faith in you," she says.

Image captionRuth Stuart from the CIPD says some employers now ask for video CVs

CVs have been around for years and Ruth Stuart, research adviser at the CIPD, says that she expects their format to evolve as technology changes.

Some employers are asking for video CVs, where applicants describe their skills and experience on a short video filmed on their smartphone, or requesting jobseekers complete application forms online.

However, she argues that CVs will always be useful.

"If your CV is always up-to-date then you can quite easily fill in those online applications because you have got all that information to hand," she says.

#Help and #examples

There are plenty of useful tools and templates to assist people writing up their CV for the first time, or brushing up an existing one.

The National Careers Service has a CV writing factsheet and a CV builder with various tips and templates.

For those looking for a job, a database of jobs held by Jobcentre Plus is a good place to start.

In addition, there is a separate database of jobs in Northern Ireland.

Skills Development Scotland has advice on finding a job, dealing with redundancy and links to Scotland-specific job sites.

Careers Wales has bi-lingual advice covering all these areas and also includes help for jobseekers under the age of 19.

Global tips

CVs can be produced in a different format for job applications outside of the UK.

For example, the equivalent of the CV in the US is the "resume".

This has much the same aims by outlining job talents, work history, education and career goals, as well as how a candidate's experience and skills would be suited to the job being advertised.

Content courtesy of BBC