How a Business Coach Can Help You: Maximizing Your Performance for Growth
People are always so intrigued when I tell them I am a business coach. When I say I am a consultant, I rarely get any follow-up questions. But, when I say that I am a business coach, people always look curious, if not doubtful, that it is an actual profession. Usually, the question is along the lines of what exactly does a business coach do? As if they are going to be the ones to catch me in my charade. I always say something to the effect of how I show up as a support system to entrepreneurs, coaches, and owners who want to take their performance growth or their business growth to the next level. This response usually gets a wide-eye response, or a nod, and on occasion an interesting remark.
As a fifteen-year veteran entrepreneur I know firsthand the importance of tangible support to a business owner. Typically, new and small businesses have teams helping them work in the business, but they also need someone with more experience helping them work on the business.
I can’t tell you how many late nights, long weekends, and early mornings I hoped a coach or mentor would clandestinely appear to guide me through decisions in areas that were new to me. No matter how many books and articles you read (and I must have read 2-3 books a week), nothing replaces brainstorming and strategizing with someone fully focused on your needs and specific goals. And, nothing replaces having someone in your corner reminding you to get out of the day-to-day weeds to plan for the bigger growth picture.
This is why I decided to become the business coach I always wish I had.
A recent article I read on Forbes stated that one of the top answers entrepreneurs, small business owners, and new CEOs identify as a hindrance to their success in running a new business is support. Running a business can be isolating. It can be hard to get strategic feedback or input from someone at or above your level of expertise. Working with a business coach is an accelerated way to grow your business and your performance as a business owner, and help you develop efficiencies that enhance your operations.
So, What is a Business Coach?
A business coach is a catalyst for achieving the results and goals you have for your company. They have real-world business experience and expertise in coaching, guiding, and holding the space for personal and professional development. The best business coaches also genuinely care about helping companies thrive and guiding leaders to be set up for the most success possible.
How Does Business Coaching Work?
The first role of a business coach typically is to help you drive results. They can help develop action plans, strategies, and roadmaps for growth. They also help keep you accountable, motivated, and performing at your most optimal level. They can help identify efficiencies, drive KPIs, and optimize processes that create real results today - not years down the line. Many coaches focus on specific areas of support such as business mindset, leadership skills, strategic planning, marketing strategies, and development. All coaches, regardless of their focus, have the same goal in mind - growth, growth, growth. Growing as a leader, coach, business owner, or entrepreneur is always the result of working with a good coach.
The second part of business coaching is establishing a relationship of trust and understanding that supports your personal development. A good coach will be able to meet you where you are, understand how you’re looking to improve, and craft an approach that both serves and meets your needs. Once trust is established, you can expect to grow pretty steadily because having someone help you focus on your professional growth, your business growth, and personal development will become a catalyst to moving forward. A business coach should be your champion for success.
Results You Can Expect from Coaching
In a case study conducted by MetrixGlobal to understand the ROI of business coaching, they found that 77% of respondents in Fortune 500 companies indicated coaching had a significant impact on their business. They further outlined that productivity was the most positively impacted area (Executive Briefing: Case Study on the ROI of Executive Coaching, Merrill C. Anderson, Ph.D., MetrixGlobal, LLC). In addition to increased performance, here are some key results you should expect when working with a business coach:
Safe space to get clear about your company's purpose, values, and vision
Accountability and motivation to meet and exceed your goals
Confidence to move forward with a clear strategy and vision
Self-awareness of yourself as a business owner and leadership style
Strategic roadmap to meet your goals
Renewed motivation and excitement about your growth opportunities
Several years of real-life experience, in your specific area, giving you first-hand expertise to learn and incorporate
If you think working with a business coach could be a right fit for you, feel free to learn more about our Business Coaching Programs here.
