July 29, 2021
3 Simple tips to find the perfect business coach
Have you ever thought about whether you could reach your business goals faster if you hired a business coach?
Spoiler alert! You absolutely can. I know because after being in business for many years, I’ve been coaching new and more established entrepreneurs for about 5 years now, and I’ve witnessed their results.
But… (Yes, there’s always a “but.”)
There are a huge number of people out there today offering to be your guide to achieve your idea of business success. That makes it tricky to know whether a certain business coach can actually help you succeed – or whether you’re just throwing money into the wind.
Anybody can hang out a “business coach” shingle
While there is training out there for aspiring business coaches, the truth is that anyone – knowledgeable and experienced or not – can stake their claim as a business coach.
A decade ago, I grew my businesses on my own, for the most part, with very little help or guidance. As a woman trying to get started in a male-dominated industry, I found it to be a painful and lonely experience at times. I made a lot of mistakes, wasted time, and sometimes spent money foolishly. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone!
How to find the best-fit coach for you
Since my mission is to help entrepreneurs launch and grow a business through the benefit of my hard-fought experience and knowledge, I want to offer some questions to ask that will help you decide how to choose the best business coach for you and your enterprise.
I realize this means you could be asking me some tough questions if you’re thinking about hiring me as your business coach. My answer to that is: bring it on!
Here are some questions to ask…
1. Does this business coach meet the know, like, and trust factors?
Hiring a business coach takes due diligence, along with an intentional gut-check. Ask yourself whether the coach you are considering meets your “know, like, and trust” criteria.
It’s risky to hand good money over to someone you don’t know anything about. This may seem like an obvious statement, but remember that anyone can create a sales page and even bogus testimonials to sway you into buying services.
Ideally, you should choose a business coach who you have been aware of or following for a long time, who has a solid reputation, and who has a clear set of deliverables to offer.
Signing up with a business coach who meets those criteria would be a logical next step if you’ve built a relationship with them over time – listening to their podcasts, reading their blog or newsletter, and following them on social media.
You also should have a good sense of and comfort with their personality, communication style, and approach to coaching.
2. Does this business coach have a reliable track record?
It’s easy to assume that a business coach would offer services that are founded on a well-established career of success.
Well, I hate to say it, but that’s not always the case. “Instant experts” abound on the Web, and many are eager to accept your money to tell you how to run your business, even when they have next to no experience themselves.
Maybe you’re more comfortable working with someone who’s closer to a peer than an expert. If that’s the case, there’s no shame in intentionally choosing a business coach with minimal experience (and, of course, lower fees).
On the other hand, it’s never fun to learn that the level of business coaching you need and want is not in line with what you’re actually getting.
Even if the coach you’re considering meets the “know, like, and trust” criteria, before you buy take time to ask in-depth questions that reveal whether their experience as a coach lines up with your expectations. Also ask to speak to former clients and see what they have to say about working with that coach.
3. Does your need match your business coach’s niche?
Just as you would never ask a football coach to help you improve your business, never assume that someone with the generic title of “business coach” will help you solve your specific business problems. The shoe has to fit the foot.
For example, I coach entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their business through better planning, more efficient and effective operations, and marketing. Different coaches specialize in different areas. If you’re looking for someone to show you how to build a franchise, I am not your coach.
Before you buy, get clear on what type of business coaching you need (business set-up, sales skills, business scaling, mindset issues, etc.). You should also consider the amount of time you can devote to being coached, how much time you have to follow through on the guidance you receive. Also with the style of coaching you’d be most comfortable with.
Only then should you begin your search for a business coach that meets your criteria.
Can you afford not to invest in coaching for your business?
New business owners need to understood how powerful an investment in business coaching can be. As long as a coach meets the criteria outlined above, you can’t help but win.
Sometimes I hear new business owners say they can’t afford coaching. Believe me, I understand how it feels when money is tight. I’ve been there!
Here’s the thing… If you’re serious about growing your business, the bigger question to ask is whether you can afford not to invest in business coaching. How much time and momentum can you afford to lose by not learning how to improve what you’re doing?
Why coaching helps you learn to succeed
It’s cliché but true: the business world is constantly changing. While there are fundamentals that you need to learn to build a solid business foundation, you also have to continue to learn and to adapt in order to thrive in business.
Working with a business coach who’s been in the trenches, who can get you where you want to go faster and with less grief is actually the more expedient, time, and cost-efficient choice to create your vision of success.
If you’re holding back from investing in business coaching, ask yourself why? Maybe it’s money, but maybe it’s also fear of making a wrong decision or fear of change. (There are a whole host of reasons why we avoid doing things that can ultimately improve our lives.)
My message is simply this… Just as you looked to teachers in school (and likely beyond) to learn to successfully navigate the world as an adult, you likewise need to invest as a life-long learner to succeed in business.
Even if you need to start small, the best thing is to just start.
Do you have questions about how you can succeed in your business and accelerate your journey toward reaching your goals? I invite you to learn more about From Startup to Success coaching packages. Begin with a no-cost 30-minute consultation to discuss where you are with your business and where you want to go.
Leave a Reply