How to choose an Interior Design Coach
You may have noticed that I offer interior design coaching, however, my style of coaching may not suit everyone. In this blog post, I will discuss the factors you need to consider when working with an interior design coach
Where are you now? If you are considering working with a coach, start by considering where you are in your career. Are you just starting, or have you worked as a designer for a while and want to improve the performance of some aspects of your business?
What do you need help with? The tasks of an interior designer are divided into three sections: business management, including processes and design management; design skills and growth.
Let’s consider each of these in turn.
Business management includes setting up your business, including legal and licensing, processes such as setting up apps, technology, payment, communications, design management, payroll, bookkeeping etc. It is the engine that runs the back end of your business.
Design skills include the day-to-day tasks of an interior designer. It could cover learning skills such as visualisation, programs and tech. It could include how to manage the day-to-day running of your project and how to communicate with clients and their expectations. It could include sourcing and scheduling.
Growth can include promotion and marketing, social media, websites and branding. It could cover such topics as setting up Instagram and Pinterest for interior designers. They might help you to set up your website and your branding.
Once you have considered every aspect of your business that you need help with, look for coaches with expertise in as many of these areas as possible. Look for actionable strategies- not just vague advice- with programs that can help you build your skills in these areas.
3. Check out their experience: Look for a coach with extensive knowledge and experience in the interior design space. Ensure that they have run their businesses for at least seven years- the more, the better. In addition, it helps if they have some experience outside of interior design. Do they have business training? Do they have a background in communications or education? These skills can add a different and fresh perspective.
4. Good communication skills are essential for a coach-client relationship. Look for a coach who listens to your needs, understands your vision, and provides clear and effective guidance. What platform do they teach on? Do they record sessions so that they can be reviewed later? Have they created a significant amount of content so that you can check out your teaching style and see if they are a good fit for you? You’ll also be looking for chemistry here. Is the coach able to adapt to your needs, or do they have a fixed curriculum? This may be what you are looking for, but you may also require a more personalised experience.
Ensure that you have a discovery session with them. They should ask you specific questions about where you are in your business and offer suggestions about how they can help.
5. How much does it cost? Working with a coach is a huge investment- not only in terms of time but also money.
Usually, coaches can work in two ways: they can offer one on one coaching, or they will offer you a group program.
One-on-one coaching is the most flexible approach. When hiring a one-on-one coach, ask if they have a trial period or if you are locked into a fixed period. Ensure, however, that you allow them a decent period to get to know them. One or two sessions are not enough to get to know them.
A group coaching experience can also be rewarding. Group coaches usually offer a fixed curriculum plus a live session(s) per month. They also may offer access to a Facebook community. This type of coaching is often at a much cheaper price point.
Do they give you access to a library of resources that can add to the whole experience so you can get assistance when you need it?
6. Commitment: What kind of commitment are you looking for? This is tied to the level of investment that you are able to make in your coaching journey. Though you can view your coaching as an investment, don’t go into debt for a coaching program. There is no guarantee of success and anyone who promises you a get-rich-quick scheme is probably not coaching for the right reasons.
I’ve created a Guide to help you analyse your goals and challenges in your design business that will assist you in choosing between the services of potential coaches. You can download it below.
Hi 👋🏽 I’m Joanne!
I’m an interior designer, educator and business coach. After studying Economics and Education at uni, the design world beckoned, drawing me to Christie’s in London, where I completed post-grad studies in art & design and then to Hong Kong, where I founded Eclectic Cool, a design firm and design store. . Eclectic Cool represented international brands such as Gubi, &tradition, HAY, Armadillo Rugs & Dinosaur Designs to name a few. My work and store have been featured in Monocle, Conde Nast Traveller, Elle Decor, Expat Living, Cathay Pacific inflight magazines, South China Morning Post and the ABC (Australia) network and more. I live on the south coast of Australia on a country property between the beautiful Australian bush and the Pacific Ocean with my husband and cavoodle. I’m the mum of three adult children.
