What Should You Look For in a Business Coach?

Have you ever considered using a life coach or a business coach? I highly recommend utilizing their services—with a few caveats.

Business coaches aid their clients in improving their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. They can help you clarify your goals, identify the obstacles holding you back, and then come up with strategies for overcoming each obstacle.

Do I think that coaching is for everybody??

Yes, without a doubt. However, resist the temptation to Google search or take a recommendation for a life or business coach and hire the first person you talk to. Instead of jumping into a working relationship too soon, first take a second and read the five steps below.

1. If my coach is so good, why aren’t they doing it themselves??

I want to start with one of the biggest mindsets that keeps people from trusting a business coach.

When you meet an amazing coach, it’s easy to wonder, “If this coach is so good, why aren't they doing that business?”?

This mindset is a trap for so many reasons. First, not every coach wants to be in that kind of business. Some people find greater satisfaction in knowing they’ve helped others succeed than in making millions of dollars. (It’s true!) Secondly, if they enjoyed the business and could help you in every area of your business, then you're right. They could be doing it themselves; however, most likely, they specialize in a few specific things.?

For example, I had band surgery some time ago, and I started playing tennis to exercise. I was training at the gym, and one of the top female players in the world was there.

As I watched her practice, I noticed that she had a person who was serving to her. I asked, “If that person is so great, why isn't he playing?”

?I was told, "That guy only knows how to serve it exactly where she needs it to be. However, when she returns the serve, he doesn’t have the ability to keep up. When she wants to practice a serve, she has someone else who returns it to her."?

Most coaches aren’t generalists, they’re specialists. And that’s exactly what you need. Instead of asking why a coach isn’t doing the business themselves, ask what niche they work in and who they help the most.

2. Be honest. Are you really ready to tackle your issue?

Enjoying the fruit of a successful coaching partnership is more than finding the right coach for you (though this is admittedly half the battle). The other 50% is… how bad do you want it?

Seriously, wanting to change and actively working on that change are two dramatically different things. It’s like making a New Year’s resolution. If you’re not really going to do it, don’t waste your time or money.?

“Nearly 80% of people admitted to abandoning their New Year’s resolutions by February every year, according to Forbes .”

3. Start by identifying your biggest business weakness.

Here’s the thing: You have to realize that your life is like a company. Every company has various departments (even if every department is run by the same person—aka sole proprietorships), such as human resources, sales, fulfillment, accounting, marketing, management, IT, and more.

Your life has departments, too—finances, fun and recreation, love and romance, family, friends, contributions, and more.?

If you’re looking for a life or business coach, you have to be aware of your weaknesses. Think about your goals and what’s really holding you back. It’s important that you recognize which areas of your life need inspiration and motivation. Is it time management? Is it sales? Is it marketing? Every coach has a different niche, so it’s important to recognize your biggest pain points before you start the search. If you can’t identify what the main problem is, you probably need a coach who can help you do just that—find yourself.

4. Interview the coach, find their niche, and ensure that it aligns with your most significant pain point.

Before you hire a coach, you need to interview them to make sure their main specialty is your biggest weakness. Resist the temptation of telling the coach why you want to hire a coach or what area you seek assistance with. Let the coach sell their services or expertise to you that way you know you’re finding out their real area of expertise.?

When you connect with a coach, be sure to ask questions.?

• What do most of your clients come to you for help with??
• What is your main strength??
• How has your coaching helped your clients in a tangible way??

Most life or business coaches will use their art of persuasion to put a spin on it. They will tell you that they are able to help everyone, regardless of the issue because their goal is to help you discover yourself.?

Sorry. That really doesn’t fly.?

You need to discover their niche. It’s essential to get an idea of the coach’s central message before hiring. This helps you in two ways: 1) To ensure they can assist you and 2) To help you know what area to focus on with that coach.?

Is that coach best with work-life balance? Helping visionaries become great leaders? Giving practical advice and helping you meet your financial goals? Helping you create functional processes for big dreams??

If you talk about it, it’s a dream. If you envision it, it’s possible. If you schedule it, it’s real. —Tony Robbins

5. Set the length of your engagement.?

Once they pass the initial interview and you decide to work with them, know that you have the freedom to break up with them.?

Life or business coaches aren’t meant to become a lifetime marriage, rather they’re here to help you with your biggest issue and then move on. Furthermore, within the niche they help with, they usually have a few main approaches they’ll teach you. Stay with the coach until you have those areas down, but after that, it’s time to move on. Personally, I think this process should take between 4-6 months or slightly longer per niche.

How do you know when it’s time to move on? Basically, when the meetings begin to feel repetitive and you’re not receiving anything new. It’s like the law of diminishing returns. You’re putting the same amount of money into coaching, but you’re not yielding as much as you used to.?

No one likes a breakup, but sometimes it is critical to move on so that you can focus on another area of weakness. You went to the coach to help you with a specific area. You’ve grown in that area, so now it’s time to focus on another area—which could very well mean finding a new coach.?

A brand new coach can take you to that next level.?

…But my coach reminds me how much I’ve grown, so why should I move on??

Coaches will always compare you to where you were when they started working with you. While that’s great and at times helpful, after a while, it can become a crutch. You don’t have to work as hard because if you’ve worked with the same coach for years, of course, you’ve grown.?

Imagine in a specific area you're a 4 out of 10. After working with the coach for two months, you find yourself at an 8 out of 10 in that specific area. Over the next few months, your progress slows. You’re moving from an 8 to an 8.1, then to an 8.2.?

Nevertheless, your coach will always compare you to when you were a 4. "Wow, you're so much better than when you started…" but the growth spurt stopped three months ago. Instead of aiming for perfection—10 out of 10—it would be better to find another weakness or focus. When you get to be at an 8 out of 10 in all of your areas across the board, then you can focus on bringing those eights to nines.?

For me, once I overcome a weakness with a coach—public speaking, organization, delegation, whatever—I want to get a new coach. I want someone with a fresh perspective to take me to the next level.?

Let’s face it: coaching isn’t cheap. It requires dedication and a willingness to change. As humans, we have an innate desire to make our mentors proud. When you stay with the same coach for years on end, you become too comfortable. And frankly, you’ve probably already gleaned everything that coach has to offer you.?

So, start fresh. Get a new coach. Focus on a different area. It may be uncomfortable at first, but you’ll find yourself rededicated and inspired to become a better version of yourself in whatever area you are focusing on.?

I’m curious…. do you have a business coach? Do you think it’s worthwhile??