What is it Like to Work with a Business Coach?

A Coach Is Like a Business Friend (But Much More Valuable)

I sometimes tell a story about a client who, when I asked what he liked most about coaching, said, “It’s great to have a friend.”

At first, I was embarrassed. He was paying me to be his friend?

But then I realized he was pointing to something very real: business owners are lonely.

Who can you really talk to when you’re running a business?

Not your lawyer, accountant, or banker. Not your competition.

And often not even your spouse. Explaining the full context takes too long—and by the time you’re done, their eyes glaze over. (Ask me how I know!)

That’s why coaching often feels like having a friend who listens.

There’s a lot of value in that! And…it’s much more than that.

3 Ways a Coach Adds Value as a “Business Friend Who Listens”

1. Hearing Yourself Think

Many business owners are surprised when they come to a coaching call, lay out what’s on their mind, and suddenly stop mid-sentence with, “I’ve got it. I know what to do.”

Nothing magical happened. What changed is that they finally got the problem out of their head.

When you’re thinking alone, it’s like a snow globe that never settles. Thoughts swirl. Ideas bounce around. Worries pile up.

But the moment you say the words out loud to another person, those thoughts take shape. They become real. And once they’re real, you can deal with them.

Speaking out loud is a way of organizing your thinking, clarifying priorities, and making decisions.

2. Solving Your Own Problems

One of the best things about coaching is that clients often discover the solution themselves.

That matters more than you might think.

When someone gives you advice, it’s easy to nod, agree, and then do nothing.

But when you figure out the answer yourself (even if the coach guided you there with questions) you own it. It’s yours.

That sense of ownership means you’re far more likely to act on it.

That’s why I rarely tell clients what they “should” do.

Instead, I ask questions, reflect back what I’m hearing, and give space for them to find the answer that fits their situation.

It may sound simple, but it’s powerful. And it’s why so many clients leave a coaching call saying, “I feel lighter. I know my next step.”

3. Making the Time to Work On Your Business

Here’s another hidden benefit of coaching: it forces you to carve out time every week to step back from the daily grind.

Most owners spend the majority of their time working in the business—serving clients, handling staff issues, dealing with cash flow, answering emails.

Important work, but it keeps you stuck in task mode.

Coaching creates a regular rhythm of working on your business.

Thinking strategically. Asking bigger questions. Diagnosing problems.

Laying out priorities. In other words, doing the kind of work that shapes the future of your company.

The thinking, strategizing, and problem solving is the work of leadership. It’s just as important as selling, delivering, or managing.

Without it, you risk running faster and faster on the same treadmill without ever moving forward.

For many of my clients, the single biggest change coaching brings is simply having that hour each week where nothing else intrudes. No fires to put out. No staff tapping on the shoulder.

Just focused time to step back, reflect, and plan. That alone can change the trajectory of a business.

Why a Coach Is More Than a Business Friend

Now, here’s the important distinction: if all coaching did was give you a place to talk, you might as well grab coffee with a trusted friend.

But coaching brings something that friends can’t:

• Structure and process. Friends are supportive, but they don’t have a framework to help you solve business problems. A coach brings proven tools, strategies, and roadmaps—tested with hundreds of other owners—that give you confidence you’re moving in the right direction.
• Outside perspective. You can’t see the whole picture when you’re inside the frame. A coach brings an experienced outside view, noticing patterns you might miss and asking the questions that surface blind spots.
• Accountability. A friend will nod along. A coach will hold you to the commitments you make. That accountability is often the difference between an idea that fades away and an idea that gets implemented.
• Diagnostics and prescriptions. Most business owners know something feels “off” but can’t always pinpoint it. A coach can diagnose the real issue and lay out a practical course of action.
• Experience across industries. Business challenges repeat themselves, no matter the field. Because I’ve worked with hundreds of owners, I can quickly recognize which levers matter most in your situation and help you avoid costly trial-and-error.
• A safe, confidential space. Unlike conversations with staff, partners, or even family, coaching gives you a neutral place to speak openly without fear of judgment or politics. That safety is what allows real breakthroughs to happen.

Coaching isn’t just about conversations. It’s about creating clarity and then putting that clarity into action.

Coaching can feel like talking with a business friend. Someone who listens without judgment. Someone you can be honest with. Someone who respects your challenges.

But it’s also practical. It’s about turning those conversations into action, solving the right problems in the right order, and building a business that supports your life.

That combination—the personal connection and the professional expertise—is what makes coaching so valuable.

So yes, you need a friend. But if you’re a business owner, you need more than that. You need a coach.

If you’ve been wondering whether business coaching could help you, let’s find out. Book a complimentary 15-minute call with me and we’ll talk about your business, your goals, and whether coaching is the right fit.