| Not everyone needs a business coach. But from | | | | The coaching process typically involves an initial |
| time to time, every business hits roadblocks. And | | | | meeting where the coach works with you to |
| every business owner needs a little help every | | | | identify the main challenges you face in your |
| now and then to get their business back on track. | | | | business and lays out a plan to address them. |
| Here are 7 of the most common signs that you | | | | You'll then meet up with your coach regularly |
| and your business could benefit from coaching | | | | (usually face to face, but it could also be by |
| support: | | | | telephone or even email) to work on addressing |
| - Growth in your business has stalled - and you | | | | the challenges. |
| don't know why. | | | | At the end of every session you'll usually be set a |
| - Your profit is low relative to sales. | | | | number of tasks to implement the ideas and |
| - You spend your day fire-fighting and tackling | | | | solutions discussed in the meeting. At the start of |
| operational issues rather than working on | | | | the next session you'll review your progress to |
| developing and growing your business. | | | | identify what worked and what didn't, and what |
| - Staff morale is low - and you find yourself | | | | you learned from it. In this way, your coach acts |
| struggling to get motivated. | | | | as an "accountability partner" to ensure you |
| - You're losing customers to your competitors. | | | | achieve the goals you set yourself. |
| - All sorts of problems arise in your business | | | | Your coach can also add value by giving specific |
| when you're not around. | | | | advice based on their experience of similar |
| - You need to get more enquires and new leads - | | | | challenges to your. You and your coach need to |
| but the methods you've used before just don't | | | | be careful: there is a danger when the coach |
| seem to work any more. | | | | gives advice that this can take ownership away |
| I know from experience with my clients that | | | | from you leaving you less committed personally |
| things don't have to be this way. | | | | to making the changes. On the other hand, |
| It is possible to get your business back on a | | | | insightful advice from a coach who has "been |
| strong growth track - despite the recession. | | | | there before" can often really accelerate your |
| It is possible to get new leads and win new | | | | progress in areas where you have limited |
| customers. | | | | experience. |
| It is possible to have a highly motivated team | | | | All in all, the success of a coaching relationship is |
| working for you. | | | | dependent on both you and your coach. You |
| And it is possible to wake up each day looking | | | | must be willing to listen, to share your issues |
| forward to going in to work. | | | | openly, to be open to new ideas and options - |
| Working with an experienced business coach can | | | | and to be open to being challenged. Your coach |
| help business owners get to grips with these and | | | | must be both experienced in the areas you need |
| other problems. A coach can help you understand | | | | help - but also able to hold back from simply telling |
| and address the root causes of problems and | | | | you the "right answer" and instead to hep you |
| implement pragmatic solutions to drive growth. | | | | discover what will work for you. |