By Don Wetmore
Time Management
Don Wetmore
Top achievers in business get to the top of their game sooner or later. Those who have engaged professional coaches get there better.
There are three reasons why you might consider engaging a business coach.
Let us say the current state of your business is what you can label as “Point A,” your current reality. And let us say you are not satisfied with that “Point A.”
For example, your marketing is not working. Sales are low. Or you cannot hire and keep good employees. Perhaps you’re spending too much time being an employee for your business rather than being a CEO of your business, and your work/life balance is suffering.
If these are important enough issues that you want to take your business to a better place, you need to take action that can solve and overcome these issues. Let us label this, “Point B.”
Here are three reasons to retain an experienced business coach.
1. You do not know where Point B is. You are not comfortable where you are now and you cannot see what the solutions to your issues are. For example, your sales are not enough to produce a profit, and you do not know how to get it done.
A coach can help you clarify your goals, identify your blind spots and bring fresh, objective insight to your situation. They will ask you powerful questions that push you to rethink assumptions and define what success looks like for you.
2. You do know where Point B is. You know you must increase your sales by 50 percent, but you do not know how it can be done.
A coach brings experience, strategy and structure to your growth efforts. They have seen similar situations before and can help you build a specific roadmap. They will help you focus on the most effective actions, avoid costly mistakes and test ideas faster. Whether it is hiring better salespeople, revamping your marketing funnel or improving your pricing strategy, they help you develop a custom, executable plan.
3. You know where Point B is and you know what has to be done to fix the issue, and you know how to get there – but you can’t do it alone. You need an accountability partner to help you overcome your chronic procrastination. Many entrepreneurs know what needs to be done, but lack the consistency, discipline or time management to follow through.
A coach keeps you on track with regular check-ins, helps you overcome resistance and celebrates progress with you. This level of partnership can make the difference between spinning your wheels and moving steadily forward.
In addition to these three main reasons, there are other benefits to collaborating with a coach. They can challenge your limiting beliefs, improve your decision-making, and function as a sounding board for new ideas. They are not emotionally invested in your day-to-day operations the way you are, and that distance allows them to provide clearer, more strategic guidance.
A coach is not a crutch; a coach is a catalyst. They will not do the work for you, but they will make you better at doing the work. If you are serious about improving results, reducing stress and building a business that serves your life (not the other way around), a business coach might be the best investment you can make.
Don Wetmore is a certified business coach and the author of “The Productivity Handbook” and “Organizing Your Life.” Contact him at 203-394-8216 or ctsem@msn.com.