Interview Questions for Your Future Executive Coach

You’ve found a great candidate, are they the right coach for you?

Letting a coach into your life and business is an intimate, important decision. If chosen correctly, it will be one of the most high leverage moves you make for your business because it has the power to multiply your effectiveness and performance, which as a leader impacts your entire team and company performance. Here are a few questions I recommend asking your potential coach.

1. My top goal is [insert your #1 priority with coaching]. Can you share an example of coaching someone with a similar goal in the past? How did you approach it?
2. Some other goals I have are [insert any additional goals]. Can you share an example of coaching someone with similar goals in the past?
3. If you notice a client has a blindspot or is not showing up their best, how do you handle that?
4. What do you do to invest in your own growth and showing up your best to our sessions?
5. What are the qualities of your clients that you most look forward to working with?
6. Where do you feel like you add the most value when working with a client?
7. How do you track progress, results, or value added?

As you listen to your coaches answers, I recommend thinking about the following yourself:

1. Does this person make me want to be better just from talking with them?
2. Do they seem genuine and straightforward?
3. Do they have experience successfully helping others or themselves with my #1 coaching priority?
4. Do they bring both structure and a flexibility to adapt to my needs?
5. Is this someone I can imagine becoming a ‘trusted advisor’ to me throughout my career?
6. Do they have clear qualifications about who is a good fit for them and who isn’t?
7. Do they seem deeply invested in their own growth and showing up their best?