3 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Coach or Mentor

There are many articles on how to pick a coach, how to pay for a coach, even how to learn from a coach. I wanted to share something with you that could get you a better ROI on your investment. Let me share with you some questions you can use to interview someone you will paying for coaching/mentor services.

Question 1 - What was your greatest success as a coach? You want to know what single thing they consider to be their 'showcase' of success. If you listen carefully you will hear some important information. It could be that you may hear how they helped a client, and it was because of them that the client did so well. The other answer could be something like, "I had this one client that just took charge of their life, and they put the effort into making their dreams and realities come true. I was there, giving some guidance, but they did it all, I'm so proud of them." The 2nd answer is what I would call more of a Mentorship style answer. The key is to listen for what you are looking for.

Question 2 - How will you know if I am compatible with your style of training? This one really throws them for a loop, because most coaches are pretty sure that if you don't succeed its not their fault. Either you let yourself down, didn't follow the program or some other reason than themselves. Again the key is to listen to the response.

Question 3 - What are the rule or guidelines for communicating between sessions? You may learn quickly the philosophy they have when it comes to your success. Let me see if I can explain without ticking off a entire profession. In my opinion, you are asking someone to guide you and to share with you experiences that can keep you from making or repeating mistakes that move you away from your goal or goals, right? So if you are working with a coach and you are putting the trainings into practice, real world application, and something comes up out of nowhere...it would only make good relationship sense that you could call and ask for some guidance at that very moment. That is a rule you have to discuss in detail with your coach to learn how you both would deal with that situation.

Here is my thought, there are 2 kinds of training.

1. I will do my best to teach you what I think you need to know.

2. I will do my best to learn what you need to learn and then teach that. T

These ideas are very different, and the 2nd one requires someone that is willing to listen and teach you how to do things you didn't know you could do.

I wish you great success in your search and in your interview process with your next coach. All coaches are amazing people. They are willing to give what they know so that others can have more of what they want. Do your best to find one that is willing to give you what you need to succeed.

Your friend and student,

Sean G Murphy