Bill Gates once said, everyone needs a coach. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a basketball player, a tennis player, a gymnast or a bridge player.
Now, as a business coach I obviously agree with this sentiment. However, I also know that business coaching isn’t for everyone. There are alternatives to business coaching out there that may suit your needs better when seeking out counsel.
Which alterative you choose will ultimately depend largely on your expected outcomes, where you are in your personal and professional journey and even your personality. Cost may be a factor, as may your timeframes.
Business coaching tends to be more long term, creating sustainable strategies for growth. But if you have a short term problem within your business you want to solve, an expert consultant may be a better choice for that specific project.
You could have an immediate dispute among your executive leadership team that needs resolving, in which case a facilitator could be the answer, someone objective to mediate the diverse views to try to reach an agreement.
If you are keen to learn and progress your career through a relationship-based transfer of experience and skills while expanding your network, finding a mentor may be the option for you.
But if you just want to introduce your employees to a new skill, or improve on existing skills through a structured approach, then a reputable training programme will fit the bill.
So, yes, there are alternatives to business coaching. Whichever route you choose, though, just make sure it’s the right fit for you. Otherwise, the programme won’t be as effective as hoped, and the results will reflect this.
If you would like to explore business coaching further why not have a look at these FAQs or our coaching programmes and then get in touch.
