Who Needs a Business Coach?
Who needs a business coach? Well the answer is virtually anyone can benefit from business coaching but relatively few actually hire one. There are number of reasons for this:
‘I hate asking for help’
We are more likely to wander the streets looking for that elusive address than ever ask anyone where it is. The same applies in business. There is a mass of help and support available all around you, much of it for free. You only have to search it out and ask.
‘I am not prepared to open up’
Letting someone else into your business territory is never easy. After all it is your baby and you are weary of others however well meaning. I also find that although few ever say at the start of the relationship that they are not prepared to open up or it will be hard most have an issue over this. I find the more open my clients are the more I can add value. I also appreciate it takes a fair amount of trust too and that has to be earned over time.
‘They will never understand’
Every business thinks it is unique and special and in a way it is. It is yours so reflects your personality and way of working. However, I successfully coach businesses in every possible sector as the similarities are far more than the differences. Once one understands the business model which even the owners have problems comprehending you know precisely what the company should be doing to grow. This being said last weekend I was selling on an exhibition stand for a client with an astrophotography product and I know nothing about photography or astronomy but I am very quick learner.
‘I will be held to account’
As soon as you involve someone else in your business and you make a commitment to certain actions then they are witness to that and can hold you to account. Witnessing is a powerful process and is also one of the best reasons for having a business coach or indeed anyone you can share your plans with and to whom you can report back on your success. Certainly the more you are held to account in this way the less you commit to and the more careful you are about the commitments you do make to ensure they are achievable.
‘I have had poor advisors before’
Well it is a sad fact that there are probably more poor business coaches and advisors out there than good ones. Very few people who succeed in building a significant sustainable business ever go on to help others do the same. Of course other backgrounds – bank managers, accountants and so on do have a contribution to make but there really is no substitute for having the support of someone who has been there before and succeeded.
Maybe you are someone who will never consider hiring a business coach. On the other hand there is a possibility you resonate with some of the considerations I have covered here and might now consider hiring one. Even a few months with someone adding value by your side and keeping you motivated and on track might be worth investigating.
Chris Kaday
Business coach and business mentor
www.chriskaday.co.uk
Chris Kaday is a business mentor and advisor to a variety of companies and individuals. He also holds a number of non executive directorships and chairman roles. Chris Kaday regularly addresses conferences, seminars and company events on a wide range of business topics. He is also a teacher of meditation and stillness and writes and broadcasts in the media as a commentator on topical business and life issues.