7 Must Ask Questions Before Hiring a Coach

I remember the first time I worked with a coach. He was recommended to me and I had no idea what to expect, nor did I know what coaching was really about. Our first meeting was like getting to know a friend. Sure there was trust building through our conversation, and he was super nice. But when I left I didn’t feel challenged.

I returned to our next meeting and again it was more of the same – great listening on his part, but I still wasn’t sure where we were going. Eventually I realized that I had entered into this arrangement without enough information to give me the most out of this opportunity. Was the coaching helpful? Yes, but I believe it would have been way more powerful if I had asked the right questions at the beginning to make the most out of the experience and to really get the right “fit”.

Before you start with your coach, here are 7 critical questions to ask to make sure you get the most out of your experience – after all, you or your company are paying good money for the service so why not get the absolute best for you?

1. What are her credentials and work history?
   I don’t know about you, but knowing my coach is trained and credentialed is really important for me. It tells me she isn’t a flash in the pan or someone who has just decided to hang out a shingle. Knowing my coach’s background is key. I want to know there are common milestones we can both relate to. For example, if I were working in a large organization, I want to know she has some experience in that arena.
2. Does she give advice?
   If I am going to work with a coach on my vision and goals, I don’t want advice. I want the focus to be on my story. I am looking for clarity and direction that works for me. I don’t know about you, but I have plenty of friends waiting to give me advice. For my coach, I want them to listen and ask me the powerful questions so I can figure things out.
3. Is she available in between sessions if something important comes up?
   Life doesn’t just happen in a one-hour time slot every few weeks. It happens constantly. And sometimes we find our self in a sticky situation. If that occurs in between our sessions, I want to know I can email or call her up to talk about the issue. That is what I am paying my coach to do; be my thinking partner when the going gets tough.
4. Is she willing to challenge me?
   In coaching I am looking for change. I want to shift my perspective and find out what I don’t know. I know this will be tough work, but I am committed so I want to make sure my coach is comfortable challenging me with tough questions. It’s like peeling an onion and if I am not challenged we will be sitting with a smelly vegetable rather than getting to the essence of the issues.
5. Will she be my champion?
   This is especially critical if my company is paying for my coaching. I want to know that she is in my corner, and even though there may be common goals with my organization that we work on, the sessions are about my success and me. Having a champion thinking partner will enable me to be open and know that even when the going gets rough, I have her in my corner.
6. What is the process of coaching and what can I expect will happen?
   Would you leap off a cliff edge into a cold river without asking what to expect? Not likely. So why enter into a coaching relationship without knowing what the process will be. I use the Essential C process that clearly describes how the client and I move toward sustained change (check out my Essential C blog). I want to know my clients are in expert hands and that we aren’t just meeting for tea.
7. Will the coaching sessions be confidential?
   This is the most important question of all to ask. Like question 5, if my company is paying for the coaching, I need to know that anything we discuss is completely confidential. Confidentiality creates trust and safety, and believe me, coaching can bring out deep ideas and emotions that most of us would prefer not be made public.

Let’s face it, coaching costs money and getting the most from it requires entering into the relationship with eyes wide open. Not every coach will be the right coach for you. So before you hire a coach, take in your list and don’t be afraid to ask your tough questions. You deserve the “right fit”!