10 Questions To Ask Other Professionals When Building Your Network as an Executive Function Coach
- Sean G. McCormick
- May 6, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 3
Last updated: February, 2026
As you start to grow your network of referral partners as an executive function coach, you will want to have a series of questions handy for meeting with other providers and learning more about how you can serve them.
In this post, you'll learn why referral partners are crucial as an EF coach and my favorite questions to ask neuropsychologists.
Table of Contents:
If your marketing plan is “post more on Instagram and hope the algorithm has mercy,” you’re going to keep getting:
random leads
awkward sales calls
an income that swings like a screen door in a windstorm
A referral partner network fixes that by putting you in front of families who already trust the professional sending them your way.
This post will break down who to build relationships with, the common mistakes that quietly kill referrals, and how to use neuropsychologists as a high leverage starting point.👇
Why Grow a Network of Referral Partners as an EF Coach?
Building a referral partner network gives you a steadier flow of aligned clients without constantly posting, pitching, and praying.
Referral partners are people who already work with your ideal clients and can confidently say,
“You should talk to this executive function coach.”
Think:
school counselors
therapists
tutors
educational consultants
pediatricians
psychiatrists
neuropsychologists
academic coaches
practice owners
When you build real relationships with them, you earn trust, you get warmer leads, and you spend less time doing sales gymnastics.
A strong partner network also makes you better at your job.
You get more context, clearer collaboration, and fewer mystery situations where you are expected to fix everything with a weekly Zoom call and good vibes.
It’s one of the simplest ways to grow an ethical, sustainable practice while protecting your time and sanity.
3 Common Mistakes EF Coaches Make When Building Their Network
Mistake 1: They treat outreach like a cold pitch
They send a generic “Hey, can you refer to me?” message and expect enthusiasm.
Referral partners are not vending machines.
If you do not show that you understand their world, their clients, and what they care about, you look like another person asking for free marketing.
Mistake 2: They chase the wrong partners
They pick partners based on who sounds impressive instead of who actually shares clients with them.
Then they wonder why nothing happens.
The best partners are the ones already seeing your exact client type and feeling the same pain points, not the ones with the fanciest title.
Mistake 3: They fail to follow up like a professional
They have one good conversation, then disappear for three months, then pop back up with “Just checking in.”
That is not a relationship. It is a drive by.
Referral networks grow through simple, consistent touch points that make it easy for someone to remember you and trust you.
10 Questions to Ask a Neuropsychologist
Neuropsychologists talk to families when they’re overwhelmed and ready for answers, which makes them one of the best referral partners you can build.
If you prefer a video on this topic, watch this👇
Use these questions below to understand how neuropsychologists evaluate executive function and how you can support their clients without stepping on toes.
What are the most common executive function deficits you see in your patients, and how do they typically impact their daily activities?
How do you assess executive function challenges in your patients, and what tools or methods do you find most effective?
Can you describe some successful interventions or strategies you have observed for improving executive functions in individuals with ADHD or similar conditions?
What are the critical ages or stages for intervention in executive function development, and how can coaching be effectively tailored for these periods?
How often do you recommend incorporating executive function coaching into a treatment plan for someone with diagnosed executive function deficits?
In your experience, what are the biggest misconceptions or overlooked aspects regarding executive function challenges that coaches should address?
What role do you believe an executive function coach can play in a multidisciplinary team working with someone who has executive function challenges?
How do you measure progress or success in the improvement of executive functions, and what metrics could coaches use to track client progress effectively?
What qualities or characteristics do you look for in a referral partner, and how can an executive function coach demonstrate their value and reliability to become a trusted collaborator in your network?
Who do you currently refer to when you need executive function supports? What do you like about their work?
How to Get Your First Paying EF Coaching Client in 90 Days
If you want to land your first paying EF coaching client through outreach to neuropsychologists, I run a 90 day challenge inside my Skool community for executive function coaches.
In it, you’ll complete daily 10-15 minute tasks for 90 days (skipping weekends) and if you follow the steps and show up with real effort, the process is designed to get you a paying client by the end.
If you do not land a paying client by day 90, you stay in the community until you do, as long as you keep doing the work.
If you're ready to jump in, you can click here to join the community and get started.
The Bottom Line
If you want consistent clients without living on social media, build referral partnerships like a professional.
Start with one high fit partner type like neuropsychologists, lead with value, follow up consistently, and let relationships do what algorithms never will.
Hope this helps! 🤙🏻
FAQs
How many referral partners do I actually need to build a steady pipeline?
You do not need dozens. You need a small group of high fit partners who actually see your ideal clients and trust you enough to mention your name consistently.
What do I say in my first message without sounding salesy or awkward?
Start by asking to learn about their work and how they currently support clients with executive function needs.
Keep it short, specific, and centered on collaboration, not “please send me referrals.”
How do I follow up without being annoying?
Follow up with something useful, not “just checking in,” like a one page resource, a quick observation from your coaching work, or an update on availability and who you are best suited to help.
Consistency beats intensity, so a simple touch point every few weeks builds familiarity without becoming a pest.
This article is a part of the larger category of:
Related Articles:
What Is A Funnel And How It Will Help You Get All The Clients You Need (And Then Some)
How To Build Your First Lead Magnet as an Executive Function Coach
How To Find Your "Unfair Advantage" As An Executive Function Coach
The Anatomy of a Perfect Outreach Email for Executive Function Coaches
How To Get Your First 100 Email Subscribers As An Executive Function Coach
Want support in transitioning to executive function coaching?
Consider joining hundreds of educators and professionals who have completed our executive function coaching certification and are building profitable executive function coaching practices using their teaching experience.
You'll gain all the tools, templates, and techniques you'll need as a coach, plus you'll make new friends and have a community you can rely on to grow and learn. Learn more.
Here is one of our favorite reviews. You can read all recent reviews on this page.
About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and expanding my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.