How To Find the Right Coach For Your Business
If you are the business owner of an SME with ambition or lofty goals, there comes a tipping point. Maybe you’re growing so fast that you are struggling to function and handle it all on your own and need help. Fast. Maybe you aren’t seeing the business gain the traction you had hoped, or maybe you expanded too quickly and aren’t getting the revenue you need to keep things going. How to find the right coach for your business and do you need one?
Whatever the issue, that tipping point is when most owners of SMEs ask themselves, “Do I need a business coach?”
The simple answer is that yes, most businesses could use an educated outsider’s view into how they operate. But how do you know if reaching out to a business coach is right for you? How do you know if just using free advice from your own network of like-minded businesses wouldn’t do the trick?
Realistically, you will achieve far more with a dedicated business coach who will know exactly which strings of the bow to pluck to generate a harmonious, profitable, less stressful business that yields more than you ever thought possible. Friends and networks are great, but they won’t deep dive into the nitty-gritty your business probably needs in order to get firing on all cylinders.
So how do you go about finding the right one for you?
Find the Connection
There are millions of coaches out there. Many aren’t qualified, and not everyone is going to be the right fit for the nature of your business (despite what they tell you).
It’s imperative that you feel a true connection to the coach you are considering to invest in. Because let’s face it if your business situation is one that is financially floundering you don’t have funds to waste and it might be the one shot you have at resetting and rebalancing your business to get back on the right track.
Likewise, if you’re growing so fast you can’t keep up it’s still incredibly important to have the right coach who aligns with you. They need to understand your vision. If your prospective coach has a fixed idea they won’t waver from without taking into account the DNA of your business, that’s a red flag.
Referrals, testimonials, and reviews are all well and good, but you need to do your own homework. Follow them online and see if they are congruent with walking the walk and talking the talk. Are their website and blog relatable to you? Do you feel a natural alignment with them? Or do they rehash the same old same old with little new insight?
Does It Feel Right?
All of these things should feel comfortable to you when choosing a coach, and certainly not driven by anxiety. The connection to your coach should be founded on respect and trust or the process will ultimately fail.
The right coach will also know this to be true too. If they don’t align their values both personally and professionally with you and your business, they shouldn’t accept you as a client. The true test of the right coach is one who knows when value alignment is simpatico and that a real partnership is possible, not just in it for the money.
Choose Relevant Experience
This might sound silly to say, but does the coach you want to approach have the relevant experience to your industry? They should!
There is not one coach out there who can fix every single type of business. In fact, if they purport to do so that is a huge red flag. You’ll want to choose a coach that has in-depth knowledge of specific sectors. Someone who can advise on your sector because they’ve been there and done that.
A generalist coach is not going to add value to your business in a meaningful way if they are packaging the same message to all and sundry. Would you expect your local GP to take on your own neurosurgery or heart bypass?
The reality is that choosing a coach without relevant experience can cost you a fortune for very little return. And that is how many business owners get burned and turned off of coaching for good.
The choice is in your hands, however. So do yourself a favour and do your research and ensure you are employing someone who meets your business remit.
Consultation
For your first consultation, are they asking you for fees upfront? That shouldn’t be the case. Deciding if you are the right fit for each other shouldn’t come with a cost. You both need to invest an hour or two of time to suss out the business needs broadly and suss out if you are on the same wavelength, so to speak.
Does your potential coach ask you questions that prompt you to take time out and think about your answers? Are they thought-provoking? Do they challenge you with questions that really make you take stock of your business reality? They should.
Most of all they should be a really great listener. If you find that your coach is doing an awful lot of talking, they probably aren’t going to do a great deal of good. The ideal coach listens like a rock with ears. Absorbs what your reality is and suggests a potential action plan that you either will or won’t get on board with depending on how you gel.
Either way, it’s a chance for you to really explain what is going on and have an expert ask probing questions that may make you think long and hard about some tough questions to do with your business.
Meet Our Partners! Take the Guesswork Out of How To Find The Right Coach For Your Business
At Tricres we have an ever-growing group of Partners who have successfully been selected and then completed our Partner Programme. We don’t let just anyone sign up and become a Partner, we need to find future coaches who fit and match our values.
Our Partners come from a wide range of business sectors and are located around the globe. Find out more about our Partners and how they can help you on Our Partner Page.
Interested in becoming a Tricres Partner? Drop us an email at hello@tricres.com to get in touch and start the conversation.
We believe in experienced, well-thought-out business coaching for every ambitious SME.
We’re here to make it happen. If you’re ready to help your business reach out and we can help match you up with your perfect coach.
