9 Key Attributes to Look for in a Professional Business Coach

In the quest to enhance leadership skills and business acumen, we’ve gathered insights from ten seasoned professionals, including Executive Coaches and CEOs, on selecting the ideal business coach. They’ve shared key attributes ranging from matching a coach’s expertise to your needs to prioritizing comfort and honest chemistry. Dive into the wisdom of these business mentors to find your guiding star in professional coaching.

• Match Coach Expertise to Your Needs
• Seek Insightful Questions and Listening
• Ensure Personal Affinity with Coach
• Verify Coach’s Track Record of Success
• Assess Coach’s Methodology and Philosophy
• Choose a Coach with Relevant Experience
• Select Industry-Specific Coaching Experience
• Evaluate Coach’s Communication Style
• Prioritize Comfort and Honest Chemistry

Match Coach Expertise to Your Needs 

One key attribute to look for when selecting a professional business coach is their experience in the specific areas where you need help and support. A single coach may not be an expert in all business areas, so it’s essential to identify the particular aspects you want to focus on.

For instance, if you need to scale up your business operations, a coach with relevant experience in scaling businesses can offer insights tailored to your unique challenges and opportunities.

If your primary challenge lies in leadership and team dynamics, you’ll need a coach specializing in those fields. Matching the coach’s expertise to your specific s ensures you receive the most effective and relevant support for your business.

Nannapat Sage, Executive Coach, Potentia

Seek Insightful Questions and Listening

Look for a coach who asks insightful questions to get to know your unique circumstances, and then listens to give you individualized guidance. A good coach will help you think about the best approach for you, not just give you general advice.

On the flip side, if the coach is mostly talking (telling you what to do) and not really taking the time to listen (understanding your wants and goals), that’s more of a consultant, not a coach.

Linda Evans, Career Coach, Launched by Linda

Ensure Personal Affinity with Coach

One key attribute to consider when choosing a professional business coach is affinity. It’s crucial for entrepreneurs to “like” their business coach. You look for rapport that makes you want to converse and engage openly. If there’s a lot of awkward silence, you’ll likely find brainstorming and problem-solving sessions to be less productive.

Business owners realize that a coach’s influence extends beyond the business; it touches on personal life as well. Discussions may center on business goals and challenges, but insights gained can often apply to personal situations too.

Ultimately, affinity means keeping your coach’s questions in mind, even outside of your scheduled meetings, feeling a natural connection that enhances the coaching experience.

Precious Abacan, Marketing Director, Softlist

Verify Coach’s Track Record of Success

When you have made the decision to seek a business coach, whether for just yourself or for your whole team, one of the most important things to look for is a proven track record of success. A business coach with no track record, or a poor track record, is probably not worth your time or money.

I look for coaches who have a track record that they can back up with statistics and prior customer reviews. If they are unable to provide references, steer clear.

When you talk to the references, put some thought into the questions you will ask. Simply asking if the person was a good coach is not enough. Think about your specific wants and ask thoughtful questions about whether the coach helped the reference with anything similar.

I wouldn’t completely rule out hiring a brand-new coach. If you click with the person and your business philosophies match up, there’s nothing wrong with taking a chance. Just be clear up front about the parameters of the relationship and give yourself an escape hatch if signing a contract.

Jan Brandrup, CEO, Neurogan Health

Assess Coach’s Methodology and Philosophy

One key attribute to look for when selecting a professional business coach is their coaching methodology and philosophy. It’s crucial that their approach fits your requirements. In my experience, there are many ways to be coached. Methodologies can range from short-term and solution-focused to more introspective approaches, where you may spend years uncovering hidden dynamics that prevent you from excelling in your career and achieving business excellence.

You may encounter coaches who encourage you to check out new strategies directly in front of them, online, or in front of an audience, providing feedback based on their direct experiences with you in concrete situations. It’s important to ask the coach about their specific approach, methodology, and coaching philosophy, and why they choose to use it. Reflect on whether their method aligns well with your personal and organizational requirements.

Paw Vej, Chief Operating Officer, Financer.com

Choose a Coach with Relevant Experience

When it comes to business coaches, it’s best to find someone with relevant experience in the goals you are working to achieve. Whether it’s scaling your startup or mastering effective leadership, you hire someone who will provide tailored guidance and mentorship. General-purpose coaches have their value; you will only get the maximum return on your investment by seeking specialized expertise in your specific areas of interest.

Beyond this, the coach can be personable and charismatic. Since it’s their soft skills that matter at the end of the day, you can then have a detailed conversation with a potential coach to understand their strengths and capabilities. If such a conversation instills a sense of trust and confidence, you then know that you have the right person for the job.

Farhan Siraj, Chief Executive Officer, OSHA Outreach Courses

Select Industry-Specific Coaching Experience

When selecting a professional business coach, one key attribute to look for is their experience in your specific industry. A coach who has firsthand knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities within your field can ask about strategies that are directly applicable to your business.

They will be more attuned to the nuances of your market, helping you navigate obstacles more effectively and capitalize on opportunities with a tailored approach. This kind of industry-specific experience can significantly enhance the value you gain from the coaching relationship.

Jon Morgan, CEO, Venture Smarter

Evaluate Coach’s Communication Style

Their communication style. When I hire a business coach, I focus on how they communicate during the initial consultation, specifically, how well they listen. Then, I read through their customer testimonials to see what their previous clients say about their communication.

I check to see if the coach is described in a manner that shows they are client-driven or collaborative. Coaching is a mutual effort, and you know your business better than anyone you are hiring.

Therefore, it’s good to know that the coach will listen to your ideas, or at least take them into account. Ask questions like, “How do you incorporate client ideas into your coaching?” or “How will you handle a situation where your experience differs from my approach?” etc.

Mayur Bhatasana, Co-Founder and CEO

Prioritize Comfort and Honest Chemistry

Chemistry that allows both parties to feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable and honest is essential. Each prospective client must be free to speak, feel, and think without worry that the coach is judging them or trying to force the conversation. Growth happens when both parties are comfortable and trust each other.

Libby Kavoulakis, Business Strategist, Pivot-Transformational Business Coaching