So you’ve decided that you desperately need to hire a business coach. Don’t jump at the first person who is recommended to you or who promises amazing results. Selecting a business coach should be done with care since you will be investing both time and money on the advice of someone else.
Use the following questions to help you evaluate a potential coach and select one that really can help you grow.
Question 1: What’s your business model?
Clearly define your business model before you even start looking for a coach. You can get recommendations from any number of people who say that a particular coach helped their sales sky rocket. That won’t help you if your own business model is completely different.
If you’re very new to your business and don’t even know your business model, then do some research first. For example, if you are just starting out in internet marketing, research the different types of online businesses you could start. Pick one that resonates most with your skills and experience.
Question 2: Do they have successful experience in that model?
There’s no point hiring someone who has had amazing success building AdSense sites when you have been focused on affiliate marketing. Or if you know that you need help with the technical aspects of your business, you don’t want to end up hiring someone who is best at the people side.
Look at where the coach’s main experience has been. What kind of results have they had? Can they give you concrete examples? Don’t just take their word for it. Get references wherever possible.
Question 3. What is their philosophy for doing business?
The last thing you want to do is get immersed in a relationship with a coach and then find that you don’t agree with their business philosophy at all. For example, if you are focused primarily on quality content, you don’t necessarily want a business coach who uses article spinners or link wheels. Make sure you have the same values when it comes to your approach and what you feel is important in the way you do business.
Question 4. Do you like them as a person?
If you are going to be working closely with a coach, you should like them as a person as well. It isn’t entirely necessary, but the type of relationship you have will make the experience more enjoyable. Also, it can be difficult to take advice from someone you don’t particularly like. They don’t have to become your best friend, but you do need to respect them.
Even after you’ve answered all these questions, you should try to arrange a trial period with a coach. Just because someone is successful in your field of business doesn’t mean they’ll make a good coach for you. You definitely don’t want to sign up for a long coaching contract and then find that it’s not a good fit.