There’s a good reason why “that’s none of my business” has become such a well worn saying.
It’s because running a company – especially a small one – is a deeply personal enterprise.
As you well know, it can take many years of dreaming, research, and putting in the hard graft to get it up and running, let alone thriving.
Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or employ many hundreds of people, you know that the inner sanctum of your business is a privileged place. Access to it is special.
Which is why letting someone into that space, such as a business coach, can be a difficult thing.
- You might worry about giving someone access to the heart of your business and your decision making.
- You might worry that no one else can ever truly understand the challenges you’re facing, let alone help you find ways of overcoming them.
- You might also worry that you’ll somehow be “found out”. That you’ll be revealed as a poor business person or even an imposter in some shape or form.
But finding a good business coach is one of the most important decisions you can make for the future of your company. (As I found out myself when choosing my own coach!)
So, how do you go about doing it? How do you find and choose a business coach who is right for you?
Firstly, Do you Definitely Want a Coach?
I’ve worked with scores of business owners over the years, and I’ve often noticed that things tend to go best when I’m not only the right person to help them, but I’m working with them at the right time too.
And a big part of that means that the business owner – you – also need to believe it’s the right time. In short, you need to want the services of a business coach to make the relationship as fruitful as it can be.
Typically, it’s not actually a business coach you’re after – it’s the changes you hope they can help you make. There might even be a specific set of results you’d like to achieve, whether that’s improved customer retention, a clearer business strategy, a business rescue operation or a greater sense of control. I certainly feel similarly about my own business.
But time and again, it’s proven that a business coach:
- Helps you to spot and resolve challenges faster
- Helps you share the difficulties and feel more in control
- Helps you move faster, thanks to their own perspective and experiences
Feel free to take a look at some of the many reasons you might need a business coach, and the reasons you might not need one.
Start With Outcomes
So if it’s the results that matter, first of all define the outcome you want – and then ask yourself: “What sort of coach do I need?”
Do you need:
- A specialist who knows your industry inside and out, or has specific skills you feel you lack
- Someone who rigorously sticks to a particular coaching model or framework
- Someone who has been in similar positions to you – a coach who has run successful businesses themselves
It is my view that a coach with real experience running businesses is always a better choice than someone who has only operated at the theoretical level. To me, asking a theorist to guide you would be like asking an academic to run the economy. They might well know how things are supposed to behave in models, but practical reality is all too often radically different.
The best way to learn about business – and how to overcome challenges – is by doing it. The fastest way is to work with an experienced coach who has been through the journey themselves.
Considering How Your Business Coach ‘Fits’
In my experience, there are two types of approaches that most business coaches take:
- Coaches who follow a fixed model or framework – which they apply to every client
- Coaches who draw on their experience (of coaching, and beyond) to find the questions and inputs you need to move forward
Now you might well want to sign up for a path laid out ahead of you, to know that on a certain date you’ll be taking a certain step in your coaching plan.
Or, like me, you might think that’s all a bit inflexible and prefer to work with a coach who will not only help you get to the bottom of your biggest challenges, but also guide you as you deal with immediate problems too.
Fit also applies to what I hear people call “energy match”. It’s worth asking yourself: do you want a coach who will inspire and energise you? Do you want tough love? Or do you want someone who will take a gentler approach?
Most of the business leaders I work with want accountability. They want a coach who gives them (brace yourself) ‘homework’.
Because I do find that for my own business I benefit much more from being held to account – it’s what helps me get things done and make tangible steps towards the changes I want to make.
How to Choose a Business Coach Checklist
Once you’ve found a few options, choosing a business coach is a decision for your head and your heart.
Deciding with your head means asking who is cut out for the job. You might consider:
- Do they have professional qualifications?
- Have they been coaching for at least 5 years (and ideally longer)?
- Do they have lots of positive reviews?
- Do they have wide business experience themselves?
- Have they themselves built up a successful business apart from coaching?
Deciding with your heart is about asking yourself who you want to work with. You might ask yourself:
- Who ‘gets me’?
- Who do I trust?
- Who do I feel comfortable with?
- Who do I warm to?
Using these questions is a great way to get started on making the right choice for your business.
You Heard I Heard
So now you know the main considerations when choosing a business coach, all that’s left is to find a few and give them a call. As with any important decision, listening to recommendations from people you trust, and checking testimonials can be a helpful step. As is considering the location of the coach if you’d prefer in-person meetings (although personally I now meet many of my clients via video call).
Regardless, suitability is the real crux of the matter.
If you want to chat more about how to find the right business coach I’d be happy to help – and if my schedules are full I’m always happy to try and point you in a helpful direction.
Kind Regards,
Chris