How to choose a communication mentor: 7 questions to ask before you decide
Choose a communication mentor who starts with your questions and not with a course, shows you gaps you cannot see, gives you two or three clear solutions for each problem, and can point to proof from real events. The seven questions below help you compare your options before you decide.
You are a capable leader, and you want to speak with more confidence. But how do you pick the right person to guide you? Here is a simple way to compare your options.
What to ask
Question 1: Do they start with questions, or with a course?
A pre-built course is made for everyone. You are not everyone.
A good mentor first listens. They ask, test, and find out what is really happening in the way you speak and lead. Only then do they give you tools.
Question 2: Can they show you gaps you cannot see yourself?
Strong leaders often feel sure about their communication. The real problems usually hide in the areas you think are already fine.
Ask: "How will you find what I am missing?" A clear answer matters more than a long list of promises.
Question 3: Do you get a few clear solutions, or a pile of ideas?
Too many ideas means nothing gets used. Look for a mentor who gives you two or three options for each problem, and who picks ones you can use the same week.
Question 4: Is the work practical?
Ask what you will do between sessions. The real change happens in your meetings, your presentations and your daily talks, not only in the session room.
Good exercises are simple, short, and yours to keep using after the sessions end.
Question 5: Do they treat the person, or only the symptom?
"Speak slower" fixes one moment. But why do you rush? Why does your voice shake before a board meeting? A mentor who looks at the cause gives you a change that lasts.
Question 6: Does the proof come from real events?
Ask for specific stories: one situation, one event, what changed. Be careful with big numbers and general promises. A real case has names, a role, and a clear before and after.
Question 7: Do clients keep working with them?
Clients who stay after the first block of sessions are telling you something. They would not continue if the work did not help.
How it looked in practice
Rodolph Abu Nassar, Chief Technical Officer of Idarat Group, compared several options before he chose. Most led with a ready-made course. Elio Haddad began with questions.
"His approach was pragmatic, kind of engineering. For every problem, Elio picked two or three solutions that were right on the spot and easy to implement. He didn't overwhelm me with ideas, and he didn't just hand me a generic course."
Rodolph Abu Nassar, CTO, Idarat Group
Read the full story in the Idarat Group case study.
Quick checklist: before you say yes
- They ask questions before they give answers.
- They find gaps you did not know about.
- You get two or three clear solutions per problem.
- You have exercises to use between sessions.
- They work on the cause, not only the symptom.
- Their proof is a real event, not a vague promise.
- Clients stay and keep working with them.
Work with Elio
Lead by Speaking is a mentoring program built around Confident Presence. It is for executives and board members who want to be comfortable, confident, and in control of the room. The program follows your need. It starts with a package of 10 sessions and can extend as far as you need. Sessions are in English, Arabic or Portuguese. Elio Haddad is a Communication Mentor, and he starts with your questions, not a script.
Frequently asked questions
Do they start with questions, or with a course?
A pre-built course is made for everyone. You are not everyone.
Can they show you gaps you cannot see yourself?
Strong leaders often feel sure about their communication. The real problems usually hide in the areas you think are already fine.
Do you get a few clear solutions, or a pile of ideas?
Too many ideas means nothing gets used. Look for a mentor who gives you two or three options for each problem, and who picks ones you can use the same week.
Is the work practical?
Ask what you will do between sessions. The real change happens in your meetings, your presentations and your daily talks, not only in the session room.
Do they treat the person, or only the symptom?
"Speak slower" fixes one moment. A mentor who looks at the cause gives you a change that lasts.
Does the proof come from real events?
Ask for specific stories: one situation, one event, what changed. Be careful with big numbers and general promises.
Do clients keep working with them?
Clients who stay after the first block of sessions are telling you something. They would not continue if the work did not help.
