Nowadays, when we’re looking for a bit of advice where do we turn to more often than not? The internet, of course! A few trusty taps of the keyboard and you can learn how to do almost anything, from changing a lightbulb to registering a company name.
And when you’re a business owner looking to grow your company, it’s no different. There’s a wealth of online information aimed at business owners – much of it very useful. From recruiting employees to designing a strategic business plan, you can find the information you need to get you started.
So, with all this advice available, where does your business coach come in? And what’s the added value of working with one?
Well, much like training for a marathon or learning a new instrument, doing the research is the easy bit. It’s the getting up and doing it that can prove more difficult. You might have the best intentions in the world, but it’s hard to do it on your own, particularly without anyone to hold you accountable for taking action.
That’s where your business coach comes in. Not only do they motivate you to put aside the time and actually get the work done, but they also help you take a step back and look at the bigger picture. In doing so, your coach presents a unique perspective on you, your business and its employees. Here are the 5 top ways a coach will add value to your business:
1. They provide a fresh pair of eyes
The first thing a business coach will do is take a clear, objective look at your company from the outside in.
There’s no history involved, no emotional attachment and no preoccupation with the daily goings-on. Most importantly, they aren’t an employee of the business so they don’t have a personal agenda to fulfil. Their only aim is to help you achieve your goals.
As a fresh pair of eyes, your coach is able to spot things you and your team have become accustomed to over time, helping you build an accurate picture of how your business is currently operating – and where improvements could be made.
2. They can play devil’s advocate
Your employees may feel uncomfortable being honest about any concerns or criticisms they have – and understandably so – but your business coach will not.
Your coach isn’t there to be your friend or appease you – you hired them to help you make change. This puts them in the perfect position to challenge your thoughts, ideas and preconceptions without fear of reproach.
In order to reach your goals, there will be obstacles you need to acknowledge and overcome, and your coach is best placed to support you through this process. They help you hold up a mirror to yourself and your business, allowing you see clearly what’s working well and what isn’t.
3. They have experience working with businesses that have faced similar challenges
One of the most important benefits of working with a business coach is the first-hand experience they bring, having helped many other businesses reach their goals. A business’s challenges can feel unique to its industry, but take a step back and most problems fall into a few common categories:
Applying tried and tested strategies in these areas, your coach will help you implement lasting changes over a period of time. And because they know the things businesses commonly struggle with, they can provide practical advice for moving past these stumbling blocks and seeing results.
4. They help you set clear goals
Any business owner has long and short term goals, but it’s defining them that makes the difference. Until you sit down and commit them to paper, they are as good as abstract ideas. Defining your goals and sharing them with your team is the first step towards achieving them.
This might sound easy, but you’d be surprised to know just how many business owners never get round to completing this simple step. Having a business coach not only commits you to writing them, but it helps you take them seriously. Your coach will provide a rational sounding board, helping you to define goals that are ambitious but also completely achievable.
5. They hold you accountable
One of the main appeals about owning your own business is not having to answer to anyone else. In fact, it might be the very reason you started your own business in the first place! However, this autonomy can occasionally be a hindrance.
When you need to get something done it can be incredibly useful to be held accountable. But as the business leader, your employees don’t typically take on this role. This is where your business coach comes in. They are they to hold you accountable for all the work that needs doing to get your business to where you want it to be.
Think about implementing your business plan as if you are starting a new exercise regime. You could – and might – stick to it all by yourself. But if you meet regularly with a personal trainer who pushes you to complete every workout, how much more likely are you to succeed?
When running a business, it can be easy to get slowed down by everyday responsibilities and forget about the bigger picture. Your business coach is there to remind you of that bigger picture and keep you on the right track, no matter how busy things get!
If you think working with a business coach might help you achieve your goals more quickly, talk to us. We’ve been helping businesses like yours in the Yorkshire area for the past 10 years.