In a recent blog post, I discussed the top 11 qualities business owners and career professionals should look for in a coach. If you’re considering searching for a coach, I highly recommend giving it a read.

Before you begin working with a business coach, however, it is also a good idea to take some time to ask yourself a pre-emptive question: Are you a coachable person? Do you have what it takes to get the most out of an engagement with a good coach?

If you are, coaching can bring you professional success and have a major impact on your life. It can help you make better decisions, improve your confidence, and develop new leadership skills.

If you’re not coachable, you are unlikely to get much out of your sessions. To put it bluntly, you’d be wasting your money and your coach’s time.

So what is the best way to tell if you are a coachable person? How can you know if coaching will be a worthwhile investment for you?

Ask yourself these 10 questions:

1. Do I want to improve?

   Most coachable people have an innate desire to grow. They want to learn new things, overcome tough challenges, and become the best possible versions of themselves.

   If you are set in your ways with little desire to improve, coaching may not be for you.

2. Do I believe I can improve?

   To get the most out of your coaching sessions, you need to feel like you have the capacity to get better. A growth mindset (vs. a fixed mindset) will take you a long way.

   Of course, this doesn’t you can’t have doubts or worries. Those feelings are normal. You just need to believe you can move past them with the help of an experienced coach.

3. Do I want to accelerate my growth?

   It’s definitely possible to learn new skills and achieve big things on your own. However, a skilled coach will provide you with insights that will help you reach your goals faster. They will show you techniques and frameworks you can use to grow further than you ever could on your own.

   If that sounds like something you’d appreciate, coaching may be a good investment for you.

4. Am I willing to consider new ideas?

   Your executive coach is there to push you to get better. They are there to listen to your viewpoints and provide you with constructive feedback. They are there to help you see your blind spots and show you how to look at your problems from a new perspectives.

   You don’t need to agree with everything your coach says, but you do need to be willing and able to keep an open mind and consider their observations.

5. Do I communicate openly and honestly?

   Speaking candidly can be hard, but it’s the best way to achieve positive results through coaching.

   You don’t need to impress your coach. You don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not. You just need to be honest. A good coach will create a judgment-free zone.

6. Am I willing to put in the work?

   Your coach will provide you with all the tools you need to reach your next level, but it’s up to you to go out and put them into practice.

   That work could include anything from a writing exercise to brainstorming a topic or even coming up with some mental prompts to build a new habit. Throughout it all, your coach will be there to guide and motivate you.

7. Am I willing to invest in myself?

   Coaching is an investment of time, money, and energy - but it can have a meaningful impact on your life if you’re willing to do it right.

   As with most things in life, you get out what you put in. If you approach coaching with a half-in, half-out mindset, your results will be subpar.

8. Am I willing to show up for sessions?

   It’s important to respect the coaching process. That means

   1. Showing up for your sessions on time.

   2. Actively engaging with your coach.

   This isn’t just any other meeting. It’s the one call on your calendar that is 100% dedicated to you and your success. Make it count.

9. Can I be self-aware?

   To get the most out of your coaching sessions, you must be willing to be introspective. You need to be able to analyze yourself and recognize your strengths and weaknesses.

   If you’re capable of looking yourself in the mirror and asking yourself the important questions, you will go far in coaching.

10. Do I have a goal in mind?

    When looking for a leadership coach, it’s important to have a goal in mind. That goal can be as specific as, “I want to improve my communication skills for an interview next month” - or as broad as, “I want to be a better manager.”

    You don’t have to know all the details. Your coach will help you through the goal setting process.

    You just need to approach coaching with a real desire to improve yourself.

    If you’re only coming to coaching because your boss told you to, you’re probably not coachable.

In Conclusion

In many ways, coaching is no different than any other pursuit in life. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it.

If you’re genuinely ready to put in the work, accept constructive criticism, and leave your comfort zone, coaching can be incredibly beneficial. It can change your entire life.

But if you approach it with a negative attitude or an unwillingness to change, it will not be a good use of your time. 

So, before you send any emails or set up any introductory calls, ask yourself…

Are you coachable?

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About The Author

Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense. 

Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.