What do business coaches do?

Business coaches are professionally trained individuals who work with business owners to further develop their business. They work alongside the owner to help them achieve long term objectives, develop skills and provide resources to help business owners create a successful business. The coach meets with the owner regularly, assessing how the business operates and future growth options.

What are the attributes of a successful business coach?

• Genuine interest in helping business owners develop their company
• Able to look at the big picture
• Develops the skills and intellectual development of the business owner, along with their strengths and weaknesses
• Identifies new business opportunities
• Signposts business owner to other resources for specialist help
• Helps business owners balance work and personal life
• Assists business owner with setting goals, business plan creation and implementation
• Listens to business owners problems
• Helps develop confidence and motivation of business owner

What qualities should you look for when choosing a business coach?

• Professional accreditation which indicates coach is competent in offering coaching
• Ability to troubleshoot, solve problems and offer guidance
• Able to support future plans of business and overcome issues moving forward
• Patient individual who spends time with business owner to guarantee success
• Positive feedback from other businesses regarding coaching
• Person focussed individual, interested in developing business owner
• Effective listener and communicator
• Highly motivated individual, allowing business owner to reach full potential
• Good teacher who can develop business owners performance using multiple technique
• Individual that enjoys helping businesses develop and encouraging owner to develop

What measures successful business coaching?

A good business coach identifies skills that could be improved, for the benefit of growing a business. The coach observes the business and gives appropriate feedback to the owner. An effective coach challenges the business owner by challenging, and providing homework to develop the knowledge and skills of the business owner.

What are the important parts of a coaching relationship?

Trust and rapport must be built from the beginning. The business owner must utilise the skills and experience of the coach in order to develop their own knowledge and skills. Common issues such as mis-communication, problem solving difficulties, impact of decisions on business goals and problems with action plans must be dealt with at an early stage. It is important for the business owner to be realistic when setting goals. The coach and business owner must agree on a regular meeting schedule.

What are the signs of an effective coaching relationship?

The business owner must have a desire for success and a hunger for learning new knowledge and skills. The business owner must be open to change through learning from others and explore new business options. They must be interested in learning about their business and industry and continuously problem solve. Both parties benefit from mutual respect and clear communication.