Your friend calls. She’s upset. She’s been working with a coach for a couple of months or maybe a lot longer, and now she’s quitting without achieving her goals. “I wasted a lot of time and money and I don’t even know what went wrong. My coach had credentials and good references. And I did the work. What happened?”

Many things might have happened. Maybe your friend didn’t properly apply what she learned. Or maybe the coach wasn’t that good. But much more likely is that it was a bad match. Just as in any kind of partnership, the two partners may both be ready and willing to do their parts, but they may not mesh well or communicate well with each other.

So how can you tell in advance if someone is the right coach for you—which is the best match?

References and testimonials are important. But most important is the job interview.

Yep. Job interview. You need to be the interviewer. The potential coach is the one interviewing for the job as your coach. Like any job interviewer you want to make sure your potential investment of time and money in someone working for you will be well worth it. What should you ask? Here are 7 fundamental questions that can form the basis of your interview.

7 KEY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What makes you successful as a coach?

Ask this instead of asking the usual: What are your qualifications?

Asking for qualifications tends to result in an oral resume full of prepackaged credentials. Asking what makes you successful lets the person talk about those same qualifications but in terms of their real- world importance to clients. It’s the difference between a list of academic degrees and a discussion of how someone has applied those degrees. The answer might include information about their education, experience, success stories, and coaching process.

2. How do you determine who are appropriate clients for you and your approach?

See if this matches up with what you want. If the coach works with everyone, that may be fine, but you might prefer someone who is more of a specialist, dealing with your particular challenge or problem (for example, determining a new career vs. putting together a business plan).

3. What between-sessions work am I likely to do? Can you give me some examples?

Typically, you will have activities to do between sessions. What will these be like? How you will spend your time? The homework should be something you would be able to do and would help you. It may be hard work at times, but in general it should also be engaging and meaningful. It can also be fun and exciting if your coach is creative and knows how to motivate and bring out your creative powers.

4. Is your coaching by phone, email or in person? How long are the sessions? How long do people in my situation generally work with you?

Some coaches work with people every week in person for a year, while others think a fast track is best for empowering the client (6-8 sessions). Others turn from individual to group coaching or short phone check-ins in a couple of months once a client is on his way, while others work with unlimited emails for a year. Which is best for you, your schedule, and your finances?

5. What are your fees, and what do they cover?

Find out exactly what the costs are and what they include, not only for the initial sessions, but also for all the other options that might come up later that you may use, such as group coaching and email coaching.

6. Can I get a few references and testimonials?

If the answer isn't yes, you probably need to say no to their coaching.

7. Why should I choose YOU?

This is the MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION. Whatever the answer, this question can let you know what the coach focuses on, what elements of coaching he or she thinks is most important in relation to your needs. After all, this is the ultimate question a coach needs to answer for a potential client.

The information you get can help you decide which coach to choose. But don’t just listen for the information. Also notice

• How they talk and interact with you.

• How you feel talking with them.

If they have great credentials, but they seem distracted or hurried and you wind up feeling uncomfortable, you may want to look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you feel good about what the person says and how they interact with you, this might be the coaching match that will speed you forward toward your most cherished career or life goals.

© 2006 Leonard Lang.

Career coach and creativity trainer Leonard Lang, Ph.D., helps people get unstuck, find purpose, and land their dream jobs. You can get a free creativity ezine, learn about coaching opportunities, or obtain Leonard’s step by step book on careers, Guide to Lifework: Working with Integrity and Heart, at http://www.beardavenue.com. Or email Leonard at llang@beardavenue.com with your questions or ideas. Note: You have permission to reprint this article if you reprint it in its entirety without changes along with this paragraph and its links.

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