There are many great coaches for you to choose from, and they're featured in this amazing website so that you can find out more about their work, and what they have achieved. To help you decide who is the right person to work with you, try checking out our tips for idendifying a coach to help you be even more amazing.

• Decide on the subject you'd like to be coached in. Often coaches specialise in a particular area, so you may find them advertised under ‘Redundancy Coaching', ‘Career Coaching', ‘Relationship Coaching', ‘Transition Coaching' and other similar headings.

• Ask around the people that you know who have experienced coaching, or mention to your friends that you're considering hiring a coach (you may not know if your friends have been coached). Find out who they worked with, what they were coached in and whether they would recommend their coach to you.

• Check out the local phone book or online directory - and make a note of any adverts that you feel drawn to, writing down the website and contact details for each one you'd like to check out. Do the same for any recommendations that you've received about coaches.

• Explore the websites of the coach's advertisements that you've identified. Get a feel for their coaching philosophy, programmes and experience. It may not matter what they did before they became a coach...but then again it might - and it might be especially useful to you!

• Call the coach(es) that you would like to consider working with - or send them an email to make contact. Tell them about what you'd like to achieve from a coaching programme and explore how they might help you to achieve your goals. Find out more about their programmes, and ask them about their coaching credentials and qualifications.

• Make sure that the coach you select is formally trained as a coach - and not just as a result of a weekend or online training course. Ask if they coach full time, or if they have another job too - a preference might be to choose a full time coach who is more experienced, although sometimes part time coaches have chosen to return to other employment after gaining great experience so it's always worth exploring.

• Check that they are a member of a professional coaching organisation to ensure that they are committed to (and governed by) professional standards and ethics. Here are the current most influential global bodies responsible for governing coaching;

1. Behavioural Coaching Institute (http://www.behavioral-coaching-institute.com/)
2. European Coaching institute (http://www.europeancoachinginstitute.org/)
3. International Coaching Council (http://www.international-coaching-council.com/)
4. International Coach Federation (http://www.coachfederation.com/ICF/)
5. International Guild of Coaches (http://www.coachfederation.com/ICF/)
6. International Association of Coaches (http://www.coachfederation.com/ICF/)
7. Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (http://www.wabccoaches.com/)

• Ensure that the coach has experience of working with the area that you'd like to be coached in, and consider whether you'd like to speak with one of their previous clients or ask for testimonials and references.

• Ask if the coach offers a complimentary or reduced price first meeting - to ensure that you have the opportunity to meet your coach before committing to a coaching programme. This isn't always the case, and some coaches will commit to a significant conversation with you on the phone to help you to gauge whether you will be able to work together. Many coaches also offer money back or opt out clauses so if you feel things aren't working out for you, there's a way of stepping off your programme.

• Always go with your gut instinct after your first meeting. It's usually right!