Running a business or practice can be a daily challenge. Everyone else seemingly does it so easily, so why does it sometimes seem like so much hard work? Business owners don’t always have someone they can turn to for answers to daily frustrations, which is why more and more are looking to find a business coach. The most common issues revolve around people, money and time. In particular, the lack of it. This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for practice and business owners to find answers to those frustrating situations.
Q: I am that stage of my business where I know I need help. I have thought about a business coach but don’t really know where to start and what I should be looking for in a coach?
You’re asking this question of a coach – and by definition you may get a biased answer. I will try to be as unbiased way as possible. First be clear about what you want. Know that a coach won’t do the actual work for you (that’s what you might get a consultant in to do – but after the expense of that, it is quite likely that you, and or your business, will go back to doing things the way they were done before). A good coach will help you shift your thinking about your business and gain an understanding of basic and essential business principles and then guide you in the best way to implement them. Ask a potential coach if they have any personal experience in small business. Ask how they work; do they work from a structured program or is what they do dependent on their knowledge? Examples of structured coaching programs are E-Myth Mastery Program and the Full Spectrum Business Coaching Program. Ask if they have any testimonials or case studies. Check out the areas they cover in detail, such as marketing, finance, leadership, delivery, service and systems. While you think you may need one or two of these, they are all interdependent. Look for someone who can deliver in all these areas. Most coaches will tell you you need to measure and evaluate everything you do. Ask them how they do the same with the work they do with you. Perhaps the last word is that no matter how good a coach and their way of working is, the relationship is still only effective if you do the work you commit to in between meetings. Engaging a business coach and not doing the work required is like saying, “I bought the diet book, so how come I haven’t lost weight?”
Watch for Part Ten…coming later this week!
Until next time…
P.S. Learn more about working ON your business with my FREE eBook! Get it HERE!