Engaging a public speaking coach can be a game-changer in honing your presentation abilities, leadership skills, and boosting your self-confidence. However, the process of selecting the right coach who aligns with your unique learning style, objectives, and budget can be daunting. A well-selected series of inquisitive probes can save you time, money, and disappointment while aiding in making an informed decision.

• What is your educational and professional background?

  The depth and breadth of a coach's educational and professional background can give you a glimpse into the kind of training and experiences they have had. A coach with a formal education in Communication, Psychology, or a related field might bring theoretical insights and frameworks to the coaching process. Moreover, it's essential to evaluate their professional experience; a coach with experience in diverse roles and environments can provide a multifaceted and nuanced approach to coaching that caters to different learning styles and objectives.

• How do you customize your coaching approach?

  Every individual is unique, thus, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't suffice. Your coach should be capable of tailoring their coaching style, techniques, and tools according to your needs. This requires a sound understanding of pedagogical theories such as Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences, which posits that people have different types of intelligences and hence different learning styles.

• What are some of your success stories?

  This question serves two purposes: it allows you to gauge the coach's track record and also to understand whether their coaching style and techniques have been effective in real-world scenarios. A coach's response can also indicate the range of individuals and contexts they've coached in, which can be particularly beneficial if you're seeking a coach for a specific purpose.

• What methodologies and tools do you use?

  The efficacy of public speaking coaching is often underpinned by the methodologies and tools employed. These could range from video recordings, group workshops, role-plays, to psychometric assessments. The chosen tools should ideally align with cognitive load theory, a central facet of educational psychology, which considers the amount of information that the learner’s working memory can hold at one time.

• What follow-up support do you provide?

  Continuous reinforcement is key to mastering any skill, including public speaking. Post-coaching support could include additional resources, feedback on recorded speeches, or scheduled check-ins. Dr. Hermann Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve theory, which demonstrates that information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it, underscores the importance of follow-up support.

• What is your coaching process like?

  Understanding the structure and course of the coaching process can provide clarity and manage expectations. A good coaching process should ideally be grounded in the GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) Model, a globally recognized coaching model that structures the conversation to ensure goal-oriented outcomes.

• How do you measure progress and success?

  Finally, it's important to understand how the coach measures progress and success. This could be through periodic assessments, feedback, or another measurable metric. This ties back to the concept of formative assessment in educational theory, which emphasizes ongoing feedback to improve learning outcomes.

These questions leverage a range of multidisciplinary principles, from educational theories to psychology, underlining the importance of a comprehensive, nuanced approach in selecting a public speaking coach. It’s crucial to remember that the right coach isn’t necessarily the most qualified or experienced, but rather the one who best aligns with your unique learning style, objectives, and budget. With these questions, you stand poised to engage a coach who can genuinely steer your public speaking prowess to new heights.