Know WHY you want Business Coaching.
Pick the right coaching resource.
There are many reasons people seek out a business coach. They may actually be best served by a consultant, trainer, therapist or counselor. Ensuring you have the right type of coach will make the coaching sessions far more successful.
Do you have a goal? If you do have a goal, whether it's a successful presentation at a conference, meeting sales targets, or even a soft target such as becoming a better leader, find a business coach who will keep you focused on your target. There may be problems and issues addressed in the process, but everything will be goal oriented.
Got a problem? However, if for example, your end point is to resolve a personal issue then you may be better off turning to a therapist or counselor. Indeed if your problem is as serious as say, depression then a coach should in fact refer you to therapy. After the issue is resolved you can then hire a business coach to set some goals you can work towards.
Want advice? Perhaps your issue or problem is a business one that you want advice on, in which case you would be wise to choose a consultant or even a guru with expertise in this business area. You may well choose a coach to help you clarify your business goals and then develop your performance to achieve them but, unlike a consultancy conversation which will be about the business, your coaching conversations will be about you, albeit in the context of the business but still focused on you and your performance.
Whilst thinking about gurus or expert advisors, an interesting (almost perverse) reason I have encountered for requesting business coaching is to be in control. On a few occasions I have been invited to have a coaching conversation only to realize the client doesn't want to take responsibility for the agenda and wants to solicit advice - only to be able to argue and reject that advice! If you suspect your motive is something similar, perhaps to 'have some ideas to push against', then my recommendation is still to hire a guru or expert advisor as they are more likely to regard their job as done once the advice is given regardless of whether you take it or not.
Uncertain about what you want? Many clients don't have a personal issue, a business problem, or a desire to learn anything from me. They know something needs direction, but don't know what! Does that sound familiar? Nearly all of us sometimes have the feeling that something is wrong, but we're not sure just what that is. This may be due to the theory that we are geared to survive. It is a basic instinct to get away from danger. This overrides the desire to plan and move ahead. If the house is on fire it's best to get out, not think through the where the best place to be after running would be! Taking time when the day-to-day "fires" can be set aside, in the coaching environment with a coach who can help guide the evaluation and thinking process, can help clarify things. Business coaching, being about you, helps guide you in your thought process to clarify your goals and help you be at your best to accomplish them.
Pick the right coaching resource.
There are many reasons people seek out a business coach. They may actually be best served by a consultant, trainer, therapist or counselor. Ensuring you have the right type of coach will make the coaching sessions far more successful.
Do you have a goal? If you do have a goal, whether it's a successful presentation at a conference, meeting sales targets, or even a soft target such as becoming a better leader, find a business coach who will keep you focused on your target. There may be problems and issues addressed in the process, but everything will be goal oriented.
Got a problem? However, if for example, your end point is to resolve a personal issue then you may be better off turning to a therapist or counselor. Indeed if your problem is as serious as say, depression then a coach should in fact refer you to therapy. After the issue is resolved you can then hire a business coach to set some goals you can work towards.
Want advice? Perhaps your issue or problem is a business one that you want advice on, in which case you would be wise to choose a consultant or even a guru with expertise in this business area. You may well choose a coach to help you clarify your business goals and then develop your performance to achieve them but, unlike a consultancy conversation which will be about the business, your coaching conversations will be about you, albeit in the context of the business but still focused on you and your performance.
Whilst thinking about gurus or expert advisors, an interesting (almost perverse) reason I have encountered for requesting business coaching is to be in control. On a few occasions I have been invited to have a coaching conversation only to realize the client doesn't want to take responsibility for the agenda and wants to solicit advice - only to be able to argue and reject that advice! If you suspect your motive is something similar, perhaps to 'have some ideas to push against', then my recommendation is still to hire a guru or expert advisor as they are more likely to regard their job as done once the advice is given regardless of whether you take it or not.
Uncertain about what you want? Many clients don't have a personal issue, a business problem, or a desire to learn anything from me. They know something needs direction, but don't know what! Does that sound familiar? Nearly all of us sometimes have the feeling that something is wrong, but we're not sure just what that is. This may be due to the theory that we are geared to survive. It is a basic instinct to get away from danger. This overrides the desire to plan and move ahead. If the house is on fire it's best to get out, not think through the where the best place to be after running would be! Taking time when the day-to-day "fires" can be set aside, in the coaching environment with a coach who can help guide the evaluation and thinking process, can help clarify things. Business coaching, being about you, helps guide you in your thought process to clarify your goals and help you be at your best to accomplish them.
About the Author:
There are many reasons people seek out a business coach. They may in reality be best served by a consultant, trainer, therapist or counselor. Ensuring you have the right type of coach will make the coachingsessions far more effective.. This article, Making Business Coaching Work for You has free reprint rights.
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