Things to ask a Business Coach – before you hire them.

A relationship with a business coach could be one of the most meaningful professional liaisons you establish in the business world.

Ultimately, they can help you decipher your path to success, act as a sounding board for innovation, assist in implementing strategies to streamline your enterprise or guide its growth. But like any relationship the first step is establishing trust.

Here is a list of questions to ask when considering any prospective coach to ensure they’re the right person to meet your needs and expectations and you get off to a great start in the process.

What is your company history?

This question goes a long way to speaking of the coach’s success in the business world. It covers their challenges, successes and provides an insight into the business experience they have.

How will you work with my business and team?

This is about how the coach works to give you a sense of their methods, personality and people skills.

Do you have proven strategies and systems for business development?

Are they armed with experience and methods that are tried and true that have assisted other businesses?

What are your business strengths/expertise?

Some coaches are experts at technology, others at social media, some the big picture and others the fine-tuning of your business plan. You need to ensure the coach you select is adept at meeting your needs.

Do you have client testimonials?

What do others have to say about working with this coach and how much experience do they have?

Can you give me an example of a business you’ve worked with and what you did?

Again this will speak volumes about the way the coach works, and reveal a lot about their technique.

Do you have any questions for me?

A great coach will want to get to the heart of your business, be willing to listen and indicate that one size does not fit all in the business world.

Where would you start?

Once you have imparted information, you want to know what the coach sees as a priority. This will give you a feel for whether they have listened to your needs and you are on the same page when it comes to working with you.

Where do you see my business in one year and five year’s time?

After your initial frank discussion, this question will tell you whether you and your coach are in agreement as to what the future of your business holds. It will also indicate whether they share the passion, enthusiasm and drive to meet your needs.

Selecting the right business coach to work with you is imperative. This person will get to know your business intimately and have an understanding of your personal goals. And once you find the right person, this could be a relationship that is built to stand the test of time.

Why not ask me these Questions?