What A Business Coach Has To Offer
The majority of individuals who reach the top of their profession have benefited from effective coaching. The very best singers, dancers and athletes all have mentors who have already successfully navigated the challenging path ahead of them. These mentors are able to pass on the wisdom gained and secrets learned from their chosen industry – and it is no different for business owners.
A business coach however focuses more on helping the business as a whole progress towards long term growth and development. Think – asking rather than telling – or thought provoking rather than just giving the answers, and most importantly emphasising the concept of holding individuals accountable for their own achievements and goals.
Broadly speaking, a business coach offers much more than just advice, often drawing from personal experience, a proficient and skilled business coach will:
- Build. Facilitate the development of trusting relationships between people. It is much easier to learn and grow with people you feel comfortable with and feel you can trust.
- Assess. Observe the current situation and track progress. Placing the focus on self-awareness, by identifying gaps and inconsistencies, strengths and development needs.
- Challenge. Create environments conducive to broader thinking, support the questioning of assumptions, push for more creative thought, and encourage acceptable risk taking and alternative solutions.
- Encourage. Support differences, listen without judgement and recognise successes.
- Achieve. Assist in setting challenging goals and identifying methods or steps for achieving them. Then identify where adjustments need to be made.
Why Do I Need A Business Coach?
For some, getting into business can feel somewhat daunting, and for those who are going through difficult periods or planning significant change, making sure they are heading in the right direction is crucial. Business coaching is an especially effective tool when used to its full potential in these building or transitional periods. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand into a new and uncharted area, a business coach can provide you with the expertise to pull you through in the short term, and equip you with strategies and skills needed for the long term.
It is worth noting that like most things in life, the likely results will have a direct correlation to the amount of time and effort put in. A commitment of various resources needs to be made in order to get the most out of the relationship with your business coach. For this reason it is important to choose a coach that is going to be able to help you achieve the desired outcomes.
Qualities To look For In Good A Business Coach
- Understanding What Works And What Doesn’t. The ability to be flexible when working with people is vital, a good business coach must be able to identify quickly when something is not working and adjust or adapt their approach.
- A Quality Skill Set That Fits Your Business Requirements And Goals. Look for someone who has had experience coaching in a similar situation, this doesn’t necessarily mean they have worked in the exact same setting, it is more important to focus on the skills they can transfer to your specific requirements.
- Attention To Detail. More specifically they must possess the ability to truly examine your business as an individual entity and provide a tailor-made approach, and business specific recommendations.
Many leaders and business owners have come to understand how valuable a Business Coach can be, how integral to the success and longevity of your business their services are. The only question that remains when thinking about hiring a Business Coach is – Can you afford not to?
Contact us to find out how business coaching can assist your organisation.
Related articles from our Leadership Blog:
- Successfully Resuscitating a Business: Keep Your Finger on the Pulse
- CEOs Leading Transformation: Why What You Do Matters!
- Set Your Strategic Direction for Sustainable Business Success
- Sustaining Business Performance: Leadership Behaviour Does Count
- How to Choose a Business Coach: Three Critical Factors
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