Do you need a business coach?

Why (almost) every business owner needs a coach

Do you need a coach?

If you’re happy with your business and the level of success you’ve attained, then maybe not.

Coaching isn’t for everyone, and if you’re disinclined to get a coach, I wrote an article to help you back up that decision: Why coaching doesn’t work.

But many business owners reach a certain level of business – and then they get stuck.

They begin to experience the Big 3 Problems:

• Time: It feels like you’re busy all the time, but you’re not making any progress.
• Team: You can’t seem to find and hire the right people.
• Money: You’re not making enough of it – or you don’t know where it’s all going.

Sound familiar?

As Marshall Goldsmith puts it:

What got you here won’t get you there.

This is where a coach can help.

Here are four solid reasons why every business owner (who wants to get to the next level) needs a business coach.

1. Your business coach can provide knowledge and expert insights

The unifying characteristic of business owners who never reach the point where their business is running smoothly, profitably and (mostly) without them is a lack of business education.

As one of my clients put it:

“There is no business education in Grad School for psychology or medicine. You learn your trade and you come out of that well prepared to practice in your field, but with zero knowledge about the business world.”

If you want to build a business that supports your life (instead of the other way around) – you need to understand the fundamentals of how to run a business. These include:

• Understanding your finances and cash flow
• Learning leadership, management, and delegation skills
• Becoming better at planning, priority setting, personal productivity, and the ability to self-manage
• Thinking in terms of systems and processes instead of people

This is why it’s important to choose a business coach with the experience and background to be a trusted advisor.

2. Business coaching helps you gain clarity and perspective

We can’t see the whole picture when we’re trapped inside the frame.

A good coach provides an unbiased, impersonal view from the outside.

Your coach can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, set priorities and spot opportunities.

Not by telling you what to do, but by asking questions and skillfully prompting you to think critically about the situations you are facing.

3. Your business coach can act as a sounding board

Running your own business can be lonely and isolating.

• Your life partner doesn’t really understand and probably isn’t all that interested in hearing your “shop talk.”
• You can’t discuss challenges and problems with your staff, suppliers or competitors.
• Your personal friends may be willing to listen, but they lack business experience and wisdom to provide any useful advice or insight.

Coaching provides an opportunity for you to unload the challenges you’re experiencing – to be honest about your feelings, fears and frustrations. And to get helpful, supportive advice and perspective in return.

It also gives you a place to explore and discuss new ideas before proceeding.

4. Business coaching provides accountability

I often show this image of a recruit doing pushups.

A coach can’t do the pushups for you, but with a coach, you’ll do more pushups – and you’ll do them better.

The business equivalent of “pushups” are things like these:

• Practicing leadership skills
• Holding regular meetings with your team
• Delegating tasks
• Developing systems
• Developing and executing a marketing plan
• Making sales calls
• Setting and tracking KPIs
• Taking time to reflect, plan and develop strategy

My clients often report that they get more of the RIGHT things done between calls because of the element of accountability.

This is what leads to impressive results like tripling or even 10xing a business.

Business coaching isn’t right for everyone

Business coaching isn’t a magic pill that works without you.

If you want a next level business, you need to become a next level owner.

This means learning and growth and change.

You need to show up with motivation and a willingness to do the work.

You need to be willing to be pushed, to be asked tough questions, to think critically, to look internally and to make changes.

A great business coach is your harshest critic and your greatest champion at the same time.

It’s not necessarily easy, but it’s worth it.

Ask any of my clients: Testimonials for W5 Coaching

If you’d like to discuss how coaching can help you reach your goals, book a complimentary 15-minute call with me here: Book 15 minutes with John