Never used a business coach before?
Maybe you’ve never used a business coach before, or maybe the experience was unfulfilling and fizzled out. Many of the world’s most successful business owners and corporate leaders use coaching to grow professionally and stay ahead strategically. Like a top sports-person, a coach can bring out the best through experience, training and research. This doesn’t have to be limited to professional goals. A thorough, caring coach is going to generate positivity and wellness that impacts your approach to day-to-day life.
If you’re feeling a little stuck, or are excited about the next step but unclear on the route, consider these ways that a coach should help you.
5 ways to get more from your business coach
Does your coach push your creative boundaries?
Does your business coach push you with thought-provoking questions, lifting you to think creatively and critically? A coach’s role is not to reflect your own thinking, or agree with the routine. An involved coach is looking to grow you, push your boundaries and extend your thinking.
Does she help you prioritise delegation
Does your business coach help you prioritise which activities demand your involvement and which can be delegated? Leaders often get stuck doing tasks that they should be handing over. This undervalues their time, and blurs their strategic leadership focus.
Does your coach help you identify risk?
Business and professional growth involves risk. You can never guarantee results but you can evaluate and analyse risk decisions to support taking the most appropriate course of action. Does your coach help you identify whether you have assessed risky decisions appropriately?
Does she guide you to identify your strengths
Confidence is a tricky master, and often deserts you when you need it most, but it can also be a learnt skill. Does your coach guide you to identify your strengths, and help you rely on your belief in those strengths during difficult times?
Hold your coach accountable
Your success is her success. Are you holding your coach accountable to have the tough discussions, and bold actions that create change and professional or business development? Make sure that your coach always has your best professional interests at heart, and not just your feelings.
If you’re employing a business coach you have a responsibility to the relationship. Be clear on your goals and ambitions, and select a coach who is going to hold you to success.
Dr Elana Siew is an industrial psychologist and business coach based in Johannesburg. She works with individuals and corporates to enhance their human capacity development. She has worked across the industry spectrum at a strategic level, assisting businesses and individuals to improve their professional performance, with a special interest in women in business, and SMEs.
