5 questions to ask yourself when picking an executive coach

If this is your first time working with an executive coach, it can be hard to know what to look for. You know you need a partner you can trust to guide and support your growth into a high-impact leader. It’s also a commitment of time and money that you want to make sure you’re using as effectively as possible. But how can you figure out whether a coach is a good fit for you?

In my work as a Chief People Officer, I’ve helped founders find and vet their own executive coaches. I did the same thing for myself when I picked my own coach, Brian Wang. Here are the 5 questions that guided my decisions.

1. What kind of relationship do you want with your coach?

Your coach’s priority is your growth. A good coach will, with time and feedback, adapt to you and learn what’s most effective to help you get where you want to go. That being said, I think there’s value in working with someone who can more naturally and easily offer what you need.

When I was deciding to work with Brian, I appreciated that his approach felt very familiar to me. We thought in similar ways, had similar temperaments, and the insights he offered felt in tune with my values. When working with me, he challenged my perspective gently and I never felt uncomfortably pushed or pressured.

Another coach I interviewed was more directly confrontational. It wasn’t an approach that worked for me, but that coach ended up being a great fit for a founder I was working with who needed someone who could boldly challenge them! And that turned into a highly effective coaching relationship.

Think about the kind of relationship you want with your coach that will give you the most leverage in your growth.

• Is it someone who offers tough love?

• Is it someone who will focus on building your strengths?

• Is it someone who can offer tactical operations advice?

2. What do you think about the content they create and share?

Take a look at the person’s LinkedIn, Twitter, blog, or wherever they create and share content. It’s a glimpse into how their mind works - what they choose to think about and how they think about it.

• Do you respect how they think?

• Do you feel like you could learn something from them?

• Does it change the way you look at something or offer an insight?

This is the person you’ll be working with and who will be guiding you through your own challenges! If you don’t feel there’s alignment based on how they think and reason, it will be hard to build a relationship of trust and respect.

I still remember reading one of Brian’s blog posts called What startups can learn from League of Legends. I play League of Legends a lot, and I was surprised by the way he connected something niche, fun, and irreverent to startups and coaching. I liked the playfulness and thought the article was insightful and interesting. All qualities I wanted in the coach I worked with!

3. Do they specialize or have experience in the areas you’d like to grow in?

If you have specific areas or challenges you need help with (e.g. conflict resolution, building trust in a team, navigating layoffs), does this coach have experience navigating those things? Have they worked with people who are in similar situations as you (e.g. startup founders, leadership at a 1000+ employee company, etc.)?

While not necessary to a successful coaching relationship, it can help to work with someone who’s seen this before. My belief is that the most important thing you’re looking for is a strong, trusting bond with your coach, but it can help to work with someone who speaks the same “language” as you.

4. Are their references and testimonials relevant to what you need?

If you were referred to a coach, what does the person who referred you say about that coach? Do they bring up things that are important to you and that you’re also looking for? What makes them recommend this coach? You can also take a look through their testimonials. What do people mention most often? Are those qualities you’re looking for in a coach?

The clients I’ve worked with often mention appreciating my deep listening, personal investment, and empathetic approach to coaching. Other coaches might be thanked for their tactical advice or tough love. What are you looking for?

5. How do you feel after your initial consultation?

The way you feel after meeting this person for the first time can tell you a lot about how the relationship will go.

• Do you feel energized after the call?

• Are you left with the belief that you have the ability to grow and overcome the challenges you’re facing?

• Were you surprised by anything?

• Did you have any insights during or after the conversation?

Pay attention to your feelings! If the coach has all the credentials on paper but leaves you feeling tired or demotivated - it’s unlikely you’ll want to keep seeing them. You also won’t want to share your challenges with them, which will make it impossible for the relationship to develop further.

In my initial consultation with Brian, we jumped right into talking about where I was stuck and what I hoped to achieve. I loved the insightful connections he made between the different things I was saying, and the quick wins we were able to get right away. I left the call feeling happy, excited, and motivated to work with him.

It’s important, more than anything else, that you feel a strong connection to your coach.

Curious to discover more?

If you’re looking for a coach and resonated with what you read here, send me an email! I offer complimentary consultations to discuss where you’re feeling blocked, what you’re hoping to achieve, and if my coaching practice is a fit for you. You can come prepared with all these questions and more :-)

You can reach me at nina@ninaiordanova.com.