“But why would I need a business coach? I’ve been in business for a long time and navigated through so many challenges already. I think I’m doing well. How could someone know my situation and business well enough to tell me how to do it better?”

Does this sound like you? 

Then you’re probably a prime example of someone who really could benefit from a business coach. Let me share more.

So, what is a business coach?

If I say the word “coach”, what images come to mind? Does it bring up a memory of your old sports coach perhaps, over-enthusiastically blowing the whistle and screaming and shouting? Or does it bring up perhaps an image of some motivational, inspirational speaker on stage telling you exactly what you should be doing?

If you search for the definition of a “business coach, you’d pretty quickly find yourself overwhelmed with so many different definitions of what a business coach actually is

For me, there’s a great definition that says a lot more. It’s by Sir John Whitmore, a leading figure in executive coaching, who defines a coach as someone who “unlocks a person’s potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them”.

And this is so important.

Coaching is often confused with mentoring, which might fit your idea of the person onstage telling you what you should and shouldn’t be doing. On the contrary, a coach should be seen as your “guide on the side”. A good business coach will never tell you what to do; on the contrary, they’ll give you the confidence to unlock the skills and capabilities you already have to be the best version of yourself. A great business coach will work with you to create clearly-defined goals, time limits and mutual accountabilities. 

They’ll help you get to the heart of what you want to achieve and ensure that everything you do is another meaningful step towards your vision of success. And that’s something that’s all too often overlooked as a busy entrepreneur, who spends more time working in the business than working on it.

It’s precisely why many of the top leaders in FTSE 100 and Fortune 100 companies have their own business coaches. 

Their success speaks for itself.

A good business coach doesn’t fix a bad entrepreneur. A good business coach can help you move from being a good entrepreneur to a truly exceptional one.

Business coaching gives you a vision and accountability

So, when you started out on your journey of entrepreneurship, there would have been a clear vision of what success looks like for you that drove you through those initial challenging months or years. Your vision of success will have kept you on track when things got tough and got you fired up to get out of bed in the morning.

Over time, as responsibilities accumulate, your workforce expands and you can find yourself consumed by your business with little time for yourself and a never-ending to-do list that’s only getting bigger and bigger. You can find yourself losing sight of your vision and instead end up feeling stretched in every direction by your business. 

I get it. I’ve been there. And with every wall you hit, with every task you plough through just to keep your head above water, you can find yourself questioning why you’re even putting so much effort into a business that isn’t turning out the way you first envisioned it.

The most important thing is never to lose sight of what success looks like to you. This is where a business coach can make all the difference in keeping you anchored into your vision and keeping you in balance so your priorities are all where they should be.

A weekly or fortnightly meeting with a good business coach is your opportunity to stay grounded and on course. It’s your chance to stay in a proactive state, rather than being reactive. It’s always amazing how the process of writing down a clear list of your visions and goals with someone can help.

Reviewing your roles, responsibilities and tasks with a business coach will help you directly connect these with your goals. Meeting regularly can help you review progress and make you accountable to someone who knows what your goals are, then ensure you’re on track throughout.

Business coaching gives you unshakeable confidence

Growing a business isn’t a smooth process and progress isn’t linear. It’s all too easy to find yourself questioning what you’re doing.

If you’re going to achieve success, you’ll have to get comfortable with getting uncomfortable. Even with the most ambitious entrepreneurial spirit, stepping out of your comfort zone to do things differently can be terrifying.

But when you start seeing results and unlocking your potential, your confidence will flourish. Those big decisions will feel less daunting and more ascertained. You’ll know, deep down, that you can do this.

A business coach can act as a mirror to help you see yourself and your options in ways you haven’t seen before. At first, of course, this will feel uncomfortable. But you’ll also realise where your skills lie and what you’re capable of.

A good business coach will give you the edge to be the best version of yourself. Every entrepreneur is aware of the risks. More startups fail and close in their first year than survive and go on in to their second. That number might at times have you questioning whether you’ve really got what it takes to succeed when the odds seem stacked against you.

The good news is that in a survey by the International Coach Federation, 80% of respondents reported improved self-confidence and 70% said work performance had increased. When you know you’ve got support from a business coach, you’ll find your confidence growing week by week. With someone to keep you accountable and who knows your vision, you’ll know that the steps you take going forward will bring you closer to achieving that success.

 

So, how do I get started with a business coach?

If you now feel like you could really do with someone to support you on your business journey and uncover your true potential, the great news is that you’re in the right place.

As a business and life coach who prioritises wellbeing as much as business guidance and support, I can help you uncover the clarity and direction that you’ve been looking for. Together, we’ll drive your growth and create a beautiful balance between your personal and professional life that will bring your ambitions to life with greater ease, profitability and impact.

I have the real life experience – the took-the-leap, trust-your-gut, not-going-back-now experience that makes up the joys and nightmares of the entrepreneurial journey.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that entrepreneurship should never be a lonely road for one. We all need a supporting hand to guide us along the path from time to time.

And that’s what I’m here to do for you as a business coach. To be there for you, totally focused on your success and achievement through whatever may be in your way on this otherwise deserted road and help you make that initial vision that spurred you become a reality.

Maybe a quick call is all you need to get you unstuck. And I’d love to hear from you, to talk through your challenges, goals and what drives you. 

Get in touch and let’s talk about what we could achieve together.

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