Red Flags When Hiring a Coach
The Coaching Industry Has a Gatekeeping Problem
Anyone can call themselves a coach, build a website, and start charging money. That is not inherently bad -- some of the most effective coaches I know took unconventional paths. But it does mean that when you are hiring a physician coach, you need to know what separates a legitimate professional from someone playing the part.
Their Online Presence Is All Sizzle
A polished Instagram feed is not a coaching practice. If a coach's primary output is motivational quotes and photos from stages at events you have never heard of, slow down.
Look for substance. Do they write or speak about specific ideas? Jonathan Passmore and other researchers in The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Coaching and Mentoring make the point that coaching effectiveness is built on structured methodology, not personal branding. A coach who leads with their brand instead of their thinking is telling you something about their priorities.
They Cannot Name Their Training
You do not need a coach with an MCC from the ICF. But you should be able to ask "Where did you train?" and get a clear answer. A program name. A methodology. Something traceable.
If the answer is "life experience is my training," that is a red flag when hiring a physician coach. You would not accept that answer from a colleague presenting at grand rounds. Do not accept it here.
They Sell a Program, Not a Relationship
Some coaches are really course sellers with a coaching label. You sign up expecting one-on-one work and instead get pre-recorded videos, a group Slack channel, and a monthly webinar where you are one of forty faces on a screen.
Courses and group programs are fine. They are not coaching. Coaching requires someone who knows your name, your context, and your specific challenges. If what you are being sold looks more like a product than a partnership, name that before you commit.
The Discovery Call Is a Sales Pitch
A discovery call exists so both sides can evaluate fit. If a coach does not offer one, that is a problem -- it means they will take anyone who can pay. And if the call itself is a scripted pitch with urgency tactics -- limited spots, expiring discounts, "most people decide today" -- you are not talking to a coach. You are talking to a salesperson.
Trust Your Due Diligence
You are trained to evaluate evidence. Use that skill here. Check credentials. Ask direct questions. Read what they have written. And if something feels more infomercial than professional conversation, trust that instinct. It is probably right.
If you'd like to learn more, contact us to schedule a time to chat.
