If you’re like most business owners, you wear a lot of hats. You’re the CEO, the marketing director, the salesperson, the bookkeeper, and more. But what happens when you hit a roadblock or need help growing your business beyond a plateau? That’s where a business coach comes in. 

Business coaches can help you with everything from setting goals to improving your marketing strategy. So if you’re looking for help taking your business to the next level, a business coach may be exactly what you need. 

One of the most important things business coaches offer is objective support. This means providing you with strategies for overcoming business roadblocks or sticking points. It also means believing in your ability to accomplish what you set out to do. However, business coaches don’t work alone. They make sure that you are an active player in all business decisions by helping you create a realistic plan leading to success.

Are you curious about what business coaching is all about? Wondering if it could benefit your company? This article will give you a snapshot of what business coaching is, what a business coach does, how to tell if they’re qualified, and how it can help your organization grow and reach its goals. 

So, if you’re on the fence about whether or not to invest in this type of support, read on! You might be surprised at all that a business coach can do for your business.

5 Things a Business Coach Will Do

The idea of having someone to help point you in the right direction in your business sounds great, but what exactly does a business coach do? 

Business coaches are, by nature, highly flexible in the services they perform. Unlike a consultant who provides a more quantitative analysis of specific problems and is paid to come up with solutions, a coach works with you to help you develop the skills to become a better leader. 

Here are just a few examples of what you can expect when working with a business coach. 

1. They can offer expert advice and guidance on how you can level up as a leader. 

As a company owner or leader, everything that you know about running your company may no longer be enough. Maybe you’ve been running the company for years, and you have come up with your own way of doing things. However, as your business grows and evolves, so do your needs as a business owner. As established companies try to reach out to new customers in new ways, they need expert advice on how to best approach this challenge. A business coach can offer just that – great insight into what things you may need to change or improve upon in order to achieve success.

2. They can share business best practices and helpful Insights from other business owners 

One thing many business owners forget is that there are probably a lot of other business owners out there who are going through similar types of problems. These owners may share the same experiences as you, or they may have found new ways to do things that work better for their business.  Either way, a business coach can help you connect with these small-business owners and learn new strategies that you can implement in your company.

3. They can offer real-time business feedback and help you identify weaknesses.

There’s nothing more frustrating than knowing what it is that you need to do differently but not having anyone around to tell you how well (or poorly) you are doing at any given time. A good business coach will be able to offer real-time feedback on how your business is performing and how well (or not so well) your employees are delivering on your company’s expectations.  They can also help you identify your weakest areas and work together to find ways to make improvements.

4. They can help you find new ways of delivering value to your clients or customers 

A business coach will be able to bring fresh ideas to the table regarding how much more value you can bring to both new and existing customers by taking a good look at your products and services.  If your business is large enough, a coach may even be able to help come up with some fresh ideas for products or services that the market needs. Either way, a business coach can help you maximize the value proposition of your products & services.

5. They can help you figure out how to get more out of your company’s existing resources & set realistic goals 

In a small or medium-sized business, the owner is typically the only person with a truly holistic view of all aspects of the company. That works great when you are a startup and have very little going on in your business. However, as your business grows and adds employees, this approach to running things becomes harder and harder to manage. Sometimes when you’re so immersed in the day-to-day of your business, it can be hard to see the forest for the trees. 

A business coach can help you get out of your own head and into your business. By setting realistic goals, tracking the right metrics, and holding you as a leader accountable, a business coach can ensure you’re making the most of your resources.

While this is far from an exhaustive list of the things a business coach can do for your business, these are some of the most common areas business leaders seek assistance with. Your needs may be different, and that’s perfectly okay. Your focus areas with your coach will depend on the stage your business is in, and the challenges you’re currently facing. 

In short, if you’re wondering “why hire a business coach?” just look to your day-to-day experience in your business. If there are areas that make you feel stuck and frustrated, a business coach can help you find a way out of the rut. 

When Should I Hire a Business Coach?

There’s no single right answer to the question of when it’s time to hire a business coach. But there are a few situations that could clue you into the fact that it’s time to bring in a fresh perspective. 

Here are a few signs that will let you know when it’s time to hire a business coach:

What you’re doing isn’t working anymore. 

As a business owner, it’s important to have an open mind about what you do, as well as new opportunities for how those things can be done. This is especially true if your usual effort isn’t working anymore. 

On the contrary, if you notice yourself being too complacent or too set in your ways, then it might be time to hire a business coach. They’ll bring in new ways of thinking that will help you shift to more effective methods that can help you get unstuck and get the results you’re looking for. 

You know what you need to do, but you’re not doing it. 

“I know what I should do, but I just can’t seem to do it.”

If you’ve ever said those words to yourself, you’re not alone – and you’re probably in need of a business coach. When you know on an intellectual level what you need to do to get out of a rut but you can’t seem to do it, you’re in need of the fresh perspective that a business coach can provide. 

You’re ready to streamline your processes to save time and money

You just know there has to be a better way to tackle that task, right? Well, a business coach can help with that. Establishing processes that are sustainable and efficient for your business all while considering your unique needs and goals is just one of the many things a business coach can help with. 

You want to scale your business

Nothing separates the wheat from the chaff like a business in full-speed scale mode. It can be an exciting time of course, but it can also be extremely stressful for leaders, especially as they begin to see the holes in their existing processes. Working with a business coach who has “been there and done that” on more than a few occasions can ensure you avoid some of the common pitfalls that leaders in scale mode often encounter. 

The reasons for hiring a business coach are many and can be very personal. In general, if you feel that you don’t have anyone around you that you can trust for solid, candid, objective advice on how to run or grow your business, a business coach could be your new best friend. 

How Do I Find a Business Coach?

Selecting the right business coach is important because not all business coaches are created equal. While a number of certification programs exist for business coaching, there is no industry-standard licensing requirement. That means that your instincts and good old-fashioned research will help you decide which coach is perfect for you.

The internet is full of business coaches, and it can be hard to discern who is the right fit for you and your business simply through a Google search. If possible, reach out to fellow business leaders in your network. Many of them may have worked with a business coach and can make a personal recommendation.

Before you invest in a business coach, ask yourself:

• Does this business coach have the skills and expertise I need to take my business to the next level?
• Do they have a demonstrated history of success?
• Do they seem knowledgeable and trustworthy?
• Do I feel comfortable talking to them? Do they listen attentively to my questions and concerns?
• Can the business coach provide references?
• Does the coach ask questions and make an effort to get to know you as well? If not, this could be a red flag. A qualified coach will only work with clients that match their ideal client profile.

In general, look for someone who has similar values to you, or who shares some of the same ideas.

Conclusion

If you’re feeling stuck or uncertain about what the next steps are for your business, it might be time to bring on a business coach. A good coach can help with everything from improving processes and developing strategies, to shifting mindsets and providing accountability. However, finding the right coach for your needs is essential, so it’s important to do your research first. Only you can decide if it’s time to hire a business coach – and we hope this article has helped give you a few things to consider as you weigh the pros and cons of working with a business coach!

If you would like to explore how working together can move your career, business, or team forward through coaching individually, implementing a structure, or creating a LinkedIn Presence that magnifies, let’s begin by meeting one another to see if we click (15 minutes, no strings attached). If by chance we’ve met or you’re ready to seriously kick tires, then the Breakthrough Strategy Session is for you. We will spend 90 minutes together to debrief your Talent Dynamics Profile, establish a Business Plan outline using the Leader’s Cut Mindset & Momentum tool, and demonstrate what a complete coaching experience looks, sounds, and feels like. You will leave this complimentary session knowing which offer serves your need and if I am the coach to deliver for you. Again, no strings attached.