How to Get the Most Out of Working With a Business Coach

Entrepreneurship is hard. It takes grit, determination, and a willingness to take risks. That's why many entrepreneurs turn to business coaches to help them navigate the challenges of running a business.

But what happens when entrepreneurs aren't clear on what they want to achieve, and how a coach can help them get there? That lack of clarity can sabotage the coaching relationship and prevent entrepreneurs from getting the most out of their investment.

In the world of business coaching, there's a lot of talk about setting goals, creating a vision, and developing a plan to achieve success. And while those are all important components of working with a coach, they can be useless if entrepreneurs don't have a clear understanding of what they want to achieve in the first place.

It's easy for entrepreneurs to get caught up in the day-to-day of running a business and lose sight of the bigger picture. They may know they want to grow their business, but they're not sure how much, or in what way. They may want to increase their revenue, but they're not sure what their target number is. They may want to expand into new markets, but they haven't identified which ones.

This lack of clarity can create frustration for both the entrepreneur and the coach. The entrepreneur may feel like they're not making progress, or worse, that they're wasting their time and money. The coach may feel like they're not able to provide value to the client, or that they're not being given enough information to help the client succeed.

So what can entrepreneurs do to get the most out of working with a business coach when they're not clear on what they want to achieve? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Start with the basics. Before setting goals or creating a vision, entrepreneurs should take some time to reflect on their business and personal values. What's important to them? What motivates them? What are their strengths and weaknesses? By understanding these foundational elements, entrepreneurs can start to create a clearer picture of what they want to achieve.

2. Get specific. Once entrepreneurs have a general sense of what they want to achieve, they should get specific about the outcomes they're looking for. For example, if they want to increase revenue, they should identify a specific number they want to reach, and by when. If they want to expand into new markets, they should identify which markets and why. By getting specific, entrepreneurs can create a roadmap for achieving their goals.

3. Be honest with the coach. If entrepreneurs are struggling to articulate their goals or vision, they should be honest with their coach about it. A good coach will be able to help them clarify their thinking and create a plan for moving forward. But coaches can't do that if they don't know what's going on in the client's mind.

4. Be open to feedback. Sometimes, entrepreneurs may think they know what they want, but they're not open to feedback or new ideas. A good coach will challenge their assumptions and offer alternative perspectives. Entrepreneurs should be open to this feedback, even if it's not what they want to hear.

5. Take action. Clarity comes from action. Entrepreneurs should be willing to take action, even if they're not 100% sure it's the right action. By taking action, they'll learn what works and what doesn't, and they'll be able to adjust their goals and vision accordingly.

In the end, the key to getting the most out of working with a business coach is clarity. Entrepreneurs need to be clear on what they want to achieve, and how they want to achieve it. But that clarity doesn't always come easily. It takes reflection, honesty, and a willingness to take action. By following these suggestions, entrepreneurs can create a clearer picture of their business goals and vision, and work with their coach to develop a plan for achieving them.

It's also important for coaches to recognize when their clients are struggling with lack of clarity. Coaches should encourage their clients to reflect on their values, get specific about their goals, and be open to feedback. Coaches should also be patient and not try to rush the process of gaining clarity. It takes time and effort to get clear on what we want, and coaches should be willing to support their clients through that process.

Ultimately, the success of a coaching relationship depends on the clarity of the client's goals and vision. Without that clarity, coaching can feel like a waste of time and money. But with a clear understanding of what we want to achieve, coaching can be a powerful tool for helping entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of running a business.

So if you're an entrepreneur who's considering working with a coach, take some time to reflect on what you want to achieve. Get specific about your goals and vision. And be honest with your coach about any struggles you're having with gaining clarity. By doing so, you'll be setting yourself up for a successful coaching relationship and the achievement of your business goals.