Evaluate potential coaches with these questions to ask a coach before hiring them.
Once you’ve clarified what you want from coaching, the next step is to vet some coaches and see if you are a good match. These seven questions will help you interview them with confidence and find someone whose experience, credentials, and coaching style fit your goals.
Key Takeaways for Questions to Ask a Coach Before You Hire Them
| If you only have a minute | |
| Why it matters | The right questions reveal whether a coach’s experience and approach fit your goals. |
| Check experience & training | Look for ICF certification and relevant leadership background. |
| Clarify logistics | Decide if you want online, in-person, or hybrid coaching. |
| Test the relationship | A free session helps you gauge rapport and trust. |
| Bottom line | Trust your instincts—fit and safety drive coaching success. |
Hiring a coach is a significant investment—in your time, energy, and growth. The right questions will help you build trust and avoid costly mismatches before you hire a coach.
1. What experiences do you draw on as a coach?
Experience shapes how most coaches work. Ask about both coaching experience and relevant leadership or business experience. Many excellent coaches come from executive, education, or organizational-development backgrounds.
If you’re exploring leadership coaching to improve team performance or career trajectory, look for someone who has led people, managed change, or developed others successfully. If they’ve done what you’re trying to do—even in a different context—that’s a strong sign of fit.
2. What certifications do you hold?
Certifications are a reality check that a coach has invested in professional standards and ethical practice. Anyone can take a weekend course and call themselves a coach, so ask for specifics.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is considered the gold standard. ICF-credentialed coaches commit to ongoing education, maintain at least 40 hours of training every three years, and follow a strict code of ethics around confidentiality and client-centric practice.
If a coach isn’t ICF-certified, ask about their training, supervision, and commitment to ethical guidelines. Their answers reveal how seriously they take the craft.
3. Do you coach in person or online?
Some clients value the energy of sitting in the same room. Others prefer the flexibility of virtual sessions. Decide what matters most for you.
Online coaching offers access to a wider range of coaches and saves commuting time. It can be surprisingly personal when both parties are fully present. If you need occasional in-person intensives or workshops, confirm whether your coach is willing to travel.
If you’re comparing virtual vs in-person options, see how executive coaching vs. leadership coaching differ in structure and cost.
4. How would you describe your coaching style?
This question reveals self-awareness. A thoughtful coach can explain how they work and when they adapt their approach.
You’ve already explored what coaching style is right for you, now you can test how their description compares. Are they mostly non-directive, guiding through reflection, or more directive, offering frameworks and accountability?
The more clearly a coach can articulate their method, the more likely they’ve refined it through real experience.
5. Can you share a client success story?
The best indication of future success is past success. Ask for one or two examples of client outcomes similar to what you hope to achieve.
Listen for measurable results: promotions earned, team engagement improved, or conflicts resolved. You’re not looking for confidentiality breaches—you’re listening for evidence of process and genuine enthusiasm. A coach who can connect stories to specific skills—confidence, trust, or alignment—demonstrates real impact.
6. Can I speak with your references?
You’ve heard the coach’s stories; now confirm them. Ask for at least three references from clients with goals similar to yours.
A quick email or 10-minute call can tell you whether the coach followed through, built trust, and helped them achieve lasting change. Checking references is an easy way to avoid costly buying mistakes.
7. Do you offer a free coaching demo?
Most professional coaches provide a complimentary session. Bring a real challenge—something you haven’t been able to solve on your own—and see how the conversation feels.
Afterward, reflect:
- Did they ask insightful questions that made you think differently?
- Did you feel understood and respected?
- How did their suggestions or reflections help you see a new path forward?
Take a day or two to process. If the session leaves you energized and clear, you may have found your match.
Trust Is the Deciding Factor
Certifications, methods, and success stories all matter—but trust matters most. Coaching only works when you feel safe enough to be honest and challenged enough to grow.
When you’re ready to find the right coach, look for someone whose presence inspires confidence and respect. Explore how leadership coaching helps leaders strengthen confidence, trust, and decision making.
Keep Learning: How to Find a Coach Series
Continue exploring the full How to Find a Coach series to understand what kind of support fits your goals and learning style:
- Why Hire a Coach, and How to Find the Right Coach for You
- What Business Coaching Is and Why It Works: The Proven Science That Helps Good Leaders Get Even Better
- Coaching vs Teaching vs Therapy — What Is Better for Me?
- If You Can’t Find a Good Mentor, Get a Great Coach: How We Really Learn at Work
- Executive Coaching vs Leadership Coaching: What Is Better for Me?
