Did you know the return on investment for any form of coaching, be it speech coaching, leadership coaching or the like, is seven times the initial investment according to the Association of Talent Development? So how do you know which coach to work with, and with what specialty? Moreover, how do you measure a coach's ROI?

Here are a few thoughts I have: If you have a talented employee who is having some trouble with their job performance, consider doing a 360-degree survey. A survey will allow you to access how they are coming across to colleagues, management, and clients. Getting your employee's buy-in beforehand is essential. Once you've narrowed down the areas of concern, start reaching out to coaches. Be sure to schedule a free consultation with the coach to gauge their demeanor. They should be able to clarify their way of working and come across as emotionally available, sincere, and organized. Be sure the coach you hire has an evaluation process in place. They should be able to access their coachee's progress throughout the coaching process.

That said, it's your gut that should make the decision. Your gut is going to tell you whether a coach is likely to create individual and organizational change. So listen to the data and follow your instinct.