Jude Paler
It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to business coaching, especially because there are so many options.
It can be overwhelming trying to find the perfect match for your situation, and it can be even harder trying to figure out whether or not you should begin in the first place.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of 10 things they don’t tell you about business coaching.
Listen. These aren’t promises we’re making; they’re truths that every entrepreneur will learn sooner or later.
They’re some things you should know right away, and some that might be a little more subtle, but are still worth considering.
Let’s get right to it.
1) Not every business coach is right for every person.
We have a number of clients in our regular practice who have been in business for years and never thought about seeing a business coach until they reached the point where some struggles had gotten them stuck.
They immediately realized that coaching would be their best option.
The way we explain this to our clients is this:
There are some people who are just better at coaching than others.
While every business coach will have a different approach to your situation, they all have the same goal: to help you create a successful business.
You may have some great ideas in mind, but the reality is that one approach might not be right for you.
You need to find out what works best for you and then move forward with confidence.
As long as you make decisions based on that, not only will you be successful, but also your future business partner or clients will be too!
This idea is simple, but it’s something that’s easy to forget: not everyone is cut out for business coaching, and not every business coach is going to be the best for your situation.
Attending any type of session can be a powerful experience, but it’s only going to work if both parties have the same goals and understand each other’s expectations.
To make it work, you’ll need to be realistic about what you’re capable of and what sort of goals you have.
The right coach is someone that is the authority on the topic you want to be coached upon, one that is credible and experienced so that he would be able to provide you with appropriate advice and learning models for your business coaching needs.
Every coach will have their own style as well, so it’s important for you to find someone with a level of communication style that suits you best.
So choose wisely.
2) You can’t teach business skills.
When you first start out, you may feel a bit like a newbie. It can also be hard to figure out how to get your ideas off the ground.
By definition, business coaching has to do with skill development; after all, that’s what coaching is all about. But it isn’t the same as teaching skills.
While business skills and knowledge can be learned and mastered, there are some things that can’t be taught.
This is something that is often forgotten when people are learning how to run their own business.
They’ll spend years learning the ins and outs of running the day-to-day operations of their business, but they’ll never learn how to identify what’s truly going to make them successful.
Some of our clients have wanted us to teach them marketing skills or sales tactics. In theory, we could do that, but we prefer to focus on strategy and mindset.
One of the most common questions entrepreneurs ask is whether or not their business coaching is going to include specific business lessons and strategies.
While these are good ideas for formal training sessions, you might be able to get something out of a coach even if you’re already an expert at problem-solving and planning.
Simply having a goal can be enough motivation to implement the necessary changes to make a business work. Change is always challenging, but at least adding one more thing to your plate will keep you occupied while you get everything under control.
If you’re not goal-driven and you have no idea what’s going to motivate your business, then it might not be the right way for you.
There are so many other ways that coaching can help you, especially when combined with the right information and support!
3) Coaches tell you what you need to hear, not want to hear.
One thing that all business coaches are going to agree on is that you should be on your own.
This is where it really starts to get challenging: how do we know what you want to hear?
This can be a difficult problem to solve, especially because most people aren’t used to listening up close.
It’s hard, but here’s how we go about making the decision:
Strategic coaching is a process that focuses on the three core components of the coaching experience: process, content, and outcomes.
This is a way to challenge the critical and analytical thinking skills of the individual. Being honest and vocal about their true assessment or evaluation of the situation would pave a way for the improvement of oneself and further growth of the person being coached.
Pieces of advice and recommendations from coaches would serve as learning materials to modify, and expand stock knowledge that would enhance business ideas and opportunities.
When you’re being coached, don’t expect the coach to be your ally. Instead, the coach should be an independent voice of experience and wisdom.
With this knowledge and skill, the aim is to become a whole and complete business entity.
Always remember: be teachable.
4) Business coaches have weaknesses too.
Though most coaches are excellent business leaders, they’re also humans with their own weaknesses.
Like the rest, coaches have bad days when they can’t focus and need a personal day to get their minds in order.
Coaches have personal lives to deal with too!
While you might assume that all business coaches are simply the same, it’s actually quite the opposite.
No two business coaching situations will be exactly alike, and no two coaches know exactly how to solve every problem.
Of course, there are some commonalities between all styles of coaching, but each person is unique.
The point is that every coach needs to know just as much as you do – if not more – in order to be consistent when providing advice and suggestions.
5) Business coaching is both scientific and artistic.
Creating a business plan, developing strategies, and executing those plans are based on something beyond our conscious mind.
Just like any other creative endeavor, success or failure can come from within. In the case of coaching, this results in an opportunity for you to be in control of your own destiny.
When you learn to trust your intuition and listen to your body, you’re free to focus on preparing for obstacles and challenges instead of reacting in fear when things don’t go according to plan.
Much like any other type of coaching, there is a balance between art and science when it comes to business coaching.
While there are some technical details that might not be easy for someone who isn’t trained in the field, there are also things that can only be learned through experience.
The coach has probably been down the path before, so he or she knows what works and what doesn’t work.
With insights like these, a coach is going to be able to point out the best way for a client to get through obstacles and grow as an entrepreneur.
6) You don’t choose them, they choose you.
If you’re starting a business, then yes, of course, you will want to hire the best coach available. But often the best business coach in the world isn’t going to be who you think is the best.
It’s important to remember that a business coach is someone who is interested in helping you with your particular problems and goals.
Don’t just assume that you’ll be able to hire someone because they have a great reputation or are willing to work with you.
You’ll need the right fit before you hire anyone, so it’s important to tell them why you’re hiring them in the first place.
If you don’t explain yourself and ask for help, then there’s no way for them to help.
If you’re having trouble getting clients, then your idea may be very good for someone else.
In order for a business coach to help you, there needs to be a certain model of a relationship that is built.
This will be usually determined by the business environment in which your coach operates.
Because most coaches are independent contractors, they choose who their clients are based on the company’s goals and their own ability to meet the client’s needs.
It is a privilege if you are being selected by a prominent and credible business coach because you are chosen to work with them.
They see your potential and would likely succeed and thus making you an ideal client.
So what can you do to unlock your full potential, especially in a business environment?
Begin with yourself. Stop searching for external fixes to sort out your life, deep down, you know this isn’t working.
And that’s because until you look within and unleash your personal power, you’ll never find the satisfaction and fulfillment you’re searching for.
I learned this from the shaman Rudá Iandê. His life mission is to help people restore balance to their lives and unlock their creativity and potential. He has an incredible approach that combines ancient shamanic techniques with a modern-day twist.
In his excellent free video, Rudá explains effective methods to achieve what you want in life more so in managing your business to success.
So if you want to build a better relationship with yourself, unlock your endless potential, and put passion at the heart of everything you do, start now by checking out his genuine advice.
Here’s a link to the free video again.
7) Coaches have their own setbacks too.
There are no perfect people in the world, but there are a lot of coaches in the world.
They have different strengths and weaknesses that they bring to the table. They also have experience in different areas and are better suited for some clients than others.
Business coaches have their own personal challenges that come from the same business environment in which they are helping.
In some cases, the coach is not able to get the appointment that he or she needed for his or her coaching session.
Some coaches get fired because of a company problem and other coaches had to give up their profession because of health problems.
Doubts, challenges, ordeals, and the like are part of everyone’s life. All these create bad situations for the coach and may cause him or her to become frustrated with the client.
The coach is reasonably an entrepreneur with his or her own business and so he also has his own woes. As a coach, he will have a lot of things to look after.
He may have other activities that occupy time which prevents him from attending scheduled coaching sessions for the client.
The client should also be helped to develop the habit of time management and manage his/her time in a sensible way.
On the other hand, the coach will learn how to be more productive and organized in life.
8) Coaches help you accomplish your own goals.
There are many reasons why a person starts a business, but the outcome of that business is always based on concrete goals.
It’s not often that people’s goals are done in one year or even in one term.
In order to see results, it’s good for you to be able to see the end result and the transformation that is occurring within your life.
Sometimes coaches will help you stay focused on your long-term goals and prevent you from falling into the trap of short-term thinking.
The business coach is usually there to motivate and inspire the client to achieve their own personal goals and objectives.
The coach serves as an inspirational motivator and supportive counselor who will do anything in his or her power to get their client to succeed and attain the recognition they deserve in their business field.
The coach is there not just to help, but also to teach, guide, and help you.
This can be among the most important benefits of business coaching.
Coaches may ask you to execute one or more of their ideas. This must be done in a manner that will achieve their goals and assist them in getting their coaching clients to succeed in the field as well.
9) It’s not a one-time deal.
Business coaching is not a one-time deal.
It’s more like an actual relationship, but with some contractual agreements as to the nature of the relationship.
The relationship between coach and client is built upon mutual trust, respect, and understanding.
There should be a feeling of mutual benefit and positive achievement and growth throughout the whole session period.
It’s important that you establish a good rapport with your coach or else they won’t be able to work with you properly.
The business coaching is ongoing and it will continue as long as the relationship is maintained.
Coaches are also available to take your calls at any time of the day and at any day of the year to support their clients in their current stage of business.
It is a partnership, a relationship that is consistent with all aspects.
Coaching is not only needed in times of difficulties and in crisis. It is a continuous exchange of ideas and information that would foster growth and accomplishment of company goals.
10) Coaches are there for you, always and for good.
While it is true that you cannot always see the benefits of being coached, the experience of working with coaches can be better than experiencing every single problem by yourself.
It’s also true that they can help you to achieve long-term goals and objectives more quickly than if you were to do it alone.
They are also equipped with a lot of tools, techniques, and concepts that allow them to help their clients achieve the desired results in less time.
They have sufficient knowledge and resources to push you to higher levels of achievement than what you would be able to achieve on your own.
They are always there for you when you need them, even if they just want to say hello and keep in touch with you every now and then.
On the other hand, as a coach, you have the motivation and inspiration to keep your client’s confidence and continue to help them in their business.
Coaches are able to make sure that their clients’ companies will not go into oblivion due to a lack of skills and abilities.
They have the determination to make sure that their clients’ companies will grow well even after they are no longer there for them.
Never let anyone of them miss out on anything regarding business coaching partnership. Your lines must always be open and reachable so as to get in touch consistently.
Show interest and appreciation of all the things they impart and give because it is beneficial to your growth as a business person.
Conclusion
These are some of the facts and benefits of business coaching that you need to know and understand if you want to experience success.
It is important for business coaches and clients to be aware of these benefits because if not, they may never see the realization of their goals or objectives.
The general rule is: “To be done right, business coaching must be done right.”
