The Coaching Crisis Most HR Leaders Don’t Talk About
Your high-potential just hit a ceiling she can’t see. Your strong contributor is running a toxic sub-team, and you’re not sure how to course-correct without losing him. Your newly promoted manager deserves better than a handbook and a “good luck.”
You know what fixes this. Executive coaching.
It’s a $20 billion industry with proven ROI: engagement lifts, retention improves, high-potentials accelerate and toxic dynamics shift. Yet most HR leaders and hiring managers don’t invest in it and when they do, they hire the wrong coach.
The Problem: Most Coaches Are Hired Without Vetting
Here’s what happens: A hiring manager takes a referral, schedules one call, moves forward without asking a single hard question. Three months and $15,000 later, the engagement has failed, the high-potential is frustrated, and the organization wonders why coaching didn’t work.
The real problem isn’t coaching. It’s the hiring decision.
Most leaders lack a framework. They don’t know what questions to ask. They trust credentials and certificates that don’t guarantee results. They confuse comfort with compatibility, and they never discuss what success actually looks like for the individual, for the team, or for the organization.
What You’ll Learn: The 15-Question Executive Coach Vetting Framework
In this week’s episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch, Bernadette Boas breaks down the exact framework she uses to evaluate coaches for her 400+ executive clients. It’s 15 questions total: 10 universal questions every leader should ask, plus 5 critical ones if you’re an HR or business leader investing in coaching across your organization.
Key Takeaways:
- How to accelerate high potentials and fix struggling teams through the right coach match
- The 15-question vetting framework that separates great coaches from poor hires
- Red flags in coach selection and how to spot them in your first conversation
- Why chemistry alone isn’t enough — what credentials and clarity actually matter
- How to structure the three-way conversation that keeps org, coach, and client aligned
Listen to the Full Episode
Episode Chapters & Timestamps
0:00 — Introduction
0:32 — Why Leaders Don’t Hire Coaches (Even When Coaching Works)
1:30 — Who This Episode Is For
3:35 — Why Coaching Matters and the ROI
5:59 — Common Hiring Mistakes Leaders Make
8:00 — The 10 Universal Vetting Questions
32:55 — The 5 HR-Specific Vetting Questions
35:48 — How to Make Your Final Decision
37:35 — Your Challenge This Week
38:00 — Closing Invitation and Next Steps
Ready to Start Vetting? Get the Leadership Gap Diagnostic First
Before you hire a coach, know what leadership gaps you’re actually addressing. Our free Leadership Gap Diagnostic takes just 10 minutes and pinpoints exactly where you need support — whether that’s through coaching, learning, or organizational change.
Get started: https://balloffirecoaching.com/opt-in
About Bernadette Boas
Bernadette Boas is an executive leadership coach, founder of Ball of Fire Coaching, and author of Shedding the Corporate Bitch. With 25+ years in corporate leadership roles (VP and Chief Knowledge Officer) and 16+ years coaching 400+ executives across Fortune 500 and high-growth companies, she transforms leaders and teams. She specializes in helping HR leaders, hiring managers, and high-performing executives make better decisions — starting with who they hire to support their growth.
Follow Bernadette:
LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/bernadetteboas
Instagram – https://instagram.com/shedthecorpbitch
About Shedding the Corporate Bitch Podcast
Every episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch transforms today’s managers into tomorrow’s powerhouse leaders. New episodes every week dive deep into leadership frameworks, hiring decisions, team dynamics, and the real challenges executives face in corporate America.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen.
Next Step: Schedule Your Discovery Call
If you’re ready to explore whether coaching is the right move for you or your team, Bernadette offers free discovery calls to help you understand the coaching process and how to vet coaches for your unique situation.
Schedule your discovery call: coachmebernadette.com/discoverycall
Want to determine if there are leadership gaps that need attention? Take our free Leadership Gap Diagnostic that takes 10 minutes and pinpoints exactly where you need support. Get started: https://balloffirecoaching.com/opt-in
