In one of my previous articles, I looked at five alternatives to business coaching. This time, I thought I would answer some of the questions often asked about business coaching in particular. If you have any more at the end of it, just get in touch,
10 Questions Asked and Answered
First up, how do I know it works?
I’ll let our clients speak for us here.
You can find more success stories here too – ActionCOACH UK Success Stories
It works, and has done for more than 15 000 clients across 75 countries for over 25 years. So, I guarantee it’ll work for you too.
Ok, but why do I need a business coach?
Every high performer, whether in sports, entertainment or business, knows the value of surrounding themselves with experienced coaches and advisors. It should be no different for small business owners.
Having a business coach can help you to develop your own winning game plan.
Running your own business can become all-consuming of your time and energy, and it becomes hard to step back and take an objective look at how your business is really doing. A business coach can help with that by making you focus on your business and holding you accountable to do the things you should do to get your business to where you want it to be. They can offer insight into your marketing, your sales, your team and every other aspect of your business. It’s like having a partner, confidante, mentor and sounding board; all rolled into one!
What is one-to-one coaching?
At ActionCOACH, one-to-one coaching is our flagship coaching programme. It involves weekly or fortnightly coaching sessions where we work directly with you on your marketing and sales strategies and to develop business systems that will allow you to work less but achieve more. We touch all areas of your business over, typically, a 3 – 5 year period as we work towards getting your business into a sustainable, profitable state. After that, we begin to focus on true wealth creation, all with your personal goals in mind.
What is group coaching?
Group coaching is exactly what it says, a group of business owners learning together and sharing experiences and knowledge.
At ActionCOACH, we offer several such programmes. Which one suits you best will depend on where your business is on its growth journey. Sessions are generally held fortnightly and provide an excellent opportunity for business owners to share their challenges with like-minded business owners. From a coaching perspective, participants also benefit from having access to a coach who will be with them as their ideas take shape and has the experience to offer little pointers to make sure things happen as you plan. A business coach is there when you need someone to talk to, to discuss potential roadblocks and offer a fresh perspective when you are just not sure what to do next.
How long am I likely to work with my coach?
For as long as you are in business! Seriously though, don’t approach business coaching as a quick fix (see my previous article for business coaching alternatives if that’s what you are hoping for). Long-term success isn’t about your coach just offering suggestions or doing the work for you, it’s more about working alongside you and creating success together. In fact, they may even turn out to be your most profitable team member, one you’ll want to keep around as you continue gaining the confidence and skills to turn your goals into reality. Trust me, success is addictive; you’ll want to make it happen again and again.
Will this even work in my industry, as my business is so unique?
Yes, your business is unique, and you have your own set of skills and expertise. But the fundamentals of doing business remain the same, regardless of industry. Your business coach will have expertise in sales, marketing, business development, business management, team building and proven profit-building strategies. And if you do have a problem they may not have encountered before, they can always reach out to the broader coaching community for suggestions. Yes, it is your business but tapping into a network of collective knowledge may encourage you to think innovatively, giving you the edge over your competitors.
Won’t coaching just mean more work for me? I don’t need any more.
The ultimate goal of business coaching is to no longer have you working IN the business, but rather ON it, which means more time for you to spend doing what you enjoy most while the business continues to provide for you. Yes, initially, you will need to find a few extra hours in the week to get the process going but further into the coaching journey, you will find this no longer necessary. You will be working more efficiently with greater focus, and the systems you start to put in place will make your company more productive and profitable – with less day-to-day involvement from you.
What can I expect from my coach?
Any good business coach will keep you accountable and responsible for your action plans. They should answer questions and challenges and offer the most appropriate and current approach to managing your business.
As a coach, I believe in a no-nonsense approach that keeps you focused on your goals and ambitions while encouraging you to find the answers yourself. I am enthusiastic about sharing my knowledge to support business owners on their own growth journeys and passionate about developing leaders and high-performing teams that deliver success.
One thing I won’t do, however, is the work for you. It’s up to you and your team to score the goals!
What will we cover during coaching?
A comprehensive business coaching programme should touch on every area of your business. Where it places the emphasis will depend on you, your business and your goals.
Key areas to look at include sales and finance, marketing, team building and recruitment, systems and business development and consistency in customer service.
What about my team? Can you train them too?
Certainly. Training your team is almost as important as coaching you. Growing your team alongside your business will only increase your likelihood of success. Invest in your team, and they will invest in your business with their passion and commitment, making you achieve your goals quicker than you otherwise would.
One final question – when is the right time to start my coaching journey? There is no better time than the present. So many of our clients say they wished they had started sooner, but if you still have any questions, you would like answered about business coaching, drop me a message in the comments or get in touch – martinbaillie@actioncoach.co.uk. Let’s start the conversation.
Martin Baillie is a Business Coach and Growth Specialist at ActionCOACH Bury St Edmunds, committed to working with business owners to create sustainable, viable, profitable entities within the local community.
We find that most business owners are experts in their industry but not in business. Our ActionCOACH business re-education coaching programmes help business owners to understand all aspects of business so they can build a profitable, sustainable business that works without them.
Contact Martin Baillie, ActionCOACH Bury St Edmunds now on Tel: 01284 334099. You can also follow him on LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook
