6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Coach

4. Will you commit to working on the business?

Spoiler alert: Coaches aren't magicians. Having a regular call with a coach will not get you the desired outcome you want. The magic happens in between calls.

Your first step with your coach might focus on your capacity and ways you can create time to work on and not in your business. Working in your business involves managing the daily duties that can pile up and distract you from the activities that will accelerate growth for your firm — business development, nurturing client/prospect relationships and implementing changes. A rule of thumb is to dedicate at least 5% of your time each week, about two hours, to working on the business.

5. What are you really looking for in a coach?

Coaching and consulting offer different levels of guidance and support. With the popularity of coaching in recent years, many coaches can and do wear both hats. Dare we call it coach-sulting?

Coaching is "partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential" as defined by the International Coaching Federation. Coaches work with you to find your answers, rather than hand over solutions.

Just as working alongside your clients in the planning experience uncovers motivations and aspirations, so too does working alongside a coach. This approach can create more significant and impactful change.

Before you decide on a coach, discuss with them their style, training and background to make sure you are on the same page and have clear expectations of working together.

6. What type of accountability do you need?

The type of accountability and support a coach provides can vary from coach to coach, and depends on your needs. Think about a time in your career when you were most effective. What type of accountability worked well for you then? Given your goals and plans, what level of accountability do you need now?

If you're someone who thrives on structure, you might want a coach who identifies specific action steps during each call or who provides you with an overall coaching plan. You might prefer a coach who has a more hands-off approach. Or maybe you're a big-picture thinker and need someone to hold you accountable to implementing changes. Understand the environment you work best in and the type of leader you work best with.

Deciding to work with a coach is an important decision, regardless of the level of change you want to bring to your business. But deciding which coach to work with is a critical decision and can be the difference between a successful partnership and a frustrating partnership.

Before you sign on the dotted line, schedule time to reflect on the six questions we outlined. Have a grasp on your goals and working style so you can select the right coach who'll work alongside you on your path toward growth.

Jessica Harrington is an executive business coach at Carson Group.