Download this FREE video checklist to reclaim your time and take your business to the next level.
The worst mistake you can make as a business owner is to think you must have all the answers. Perhaps you went into business because you wanted to control your own destiny. Maybe you were working for someone and thought, I can do this so much better if it were my business. Maybe you are tired of the toxic environment you were working in, and tired of waking up every morning dreading work. Maybe you wanted a better work/life balance. Whatever the case may be, you launched your business, and I’m sure you hit a few bumps along the way. Especially if you launched before or during the pandemic, it wasn’t easy. The good news is that you survived; now it’s time to take your business to the next level. How do you do that without running into the wall at 120 mph or losing control of things in your business? Remember, you shouldn’t think you have to have all the answers because no one does. As a small business owner, you may not have the internal resources and management team to help you guide the ship through change. In fact, more than 75% of businesses with less than $1 million in revenue, and more than 40% of $1 million to $10 million in revenue don’t have a management team at all. So, in most cases, it’s only you. In most cases, that’s not always a good thing.
That’s where an experienced business coach can help. Notice I used the word “experienced”. You can’t replace experience. There are a lot of people who claim to be business coaches. Beware of the ‘rookie’. They may tout how experienced they are and are International Coach Federation (ICF) certified or have some other certification. But, you can’t replace certifications with real-world experience. Like a rookie in professional sports, until they’ve experienced the real world, they can’t understand all the intricacies that go into running a business. Until they’ve had their own business, or been part of a start-up and suffered through the failures and the successes, they are nothing more than a ‘rookie’. There is no real step-by-step guide or set of procedures for every situation. Sometimes it’s instinct; sometimes, it’s the fact that you were in the same situation and you know what worked and what didn’t. Plain and simple, it’s experience. They understand what it takes to move forward. As I like to say, you need to find someone that has “been around the block more than once”. A business coach is there to ask questions, provide insight, offer advice, hold you accountable and help you to grow as an owner/founder. They are your second set of eyes and ears and will hopefully stop you from running into the wall at 120 mph. Why do you need a coach? So you can be the best you can be, your business can be more profitable quickly and you don’t have to work through some of the hardships other business owners have to go through that may make or break your business.
Hiring A Business Coach Suited To Your Needs
As a business owner/founder or c-level executive, as mentioned earlier, you might think you should have everything figured out, but in reality, that isn’t reality. No one has it all figured out. While each of us has our own talents, overall business and leadership skills are usually something you learn along the way.
A business coach oversees and guides an owner/founder or c-Level executive in starting, growing or developing a business. Like a sports coach, a business coach's job is to help you develop the skills and resources you need in order to be successful. So, the following are signs that will indicate when it’s time for you to hire a business coach:
You feel overwhelmed
Probably the number one sign that it's time for a coach is when you hit that feeling of being overwhelmed and can’t find a way out. You are overwhelmed by feeling like there is too much to do and not enough hours in the day. You really don’t know how much profit you are making at the end of each month. And finally, you don't feel like you have control of your business, your employees or your vendors. Don’t get me wrong, every business owner will feel this way from time to time, but it should ebb and flow; it should not be the norm. When you continue to feel this way day after day, week after week, or month after month, it’s time to hire a business coach. Let them help you get your business and life back under control.
You need a confidant to talk with about your business challenges
When everyone is looking to you for guidance and leadership, there is an expectation for excellence. Who can you trust without feeling exposed, or having someone judge your credibility or reputation within the business? Imagine how it would feel to have a safe sounding board for honest feedback on your thoughts and ideas. Someone to support you as you deal with situations, make decisions and hold you accountable. A partner you can rely on for wisdom to help you process complex issues and make tough decisions on topics. It’s very lonely at the top. When you start to feel alone it’s time to hire a coach!
You know what to do, but don't do it
It’s time to hire a coach when you "know" what to do but don't or can’t implement the changes needed to reach your goals. Lack of confidence typically occurs because you struggle to identify paradigm shifts that require someone with an outside perspective to challenge your assumptions. At that point, you need someone to help you translate general principles into specific steps that you can implement in your own life.
When you can’t get out of your own way
Most business owners feel that they have to “own” every aspect of the business. They think they know the right path to take in order to grow the business; only to realize that things aren’t working as planned. In order to get the results you want, you may need guidance from someone who can see things from a more objective view, not a subjective view. Turning to a business coach, can help you get out of your own way, which will lead to increased ROI, an increase in leads, and allow you to remove obstacles that are affecting positive results.
Looking for the best way to do things
Whether you're in business already or thinking about starting a business and could really use someone to help figure out the best way to do something; you should be considering getting a business coach. Taking the "lone wolf" route can be costly and lead to hours of wasted time. All of this can be avoided by working with an excellent coach.
You find yourself not willing to listen to others
Another big sign you need to hire a business coach is when you find yourself only listening to your own ideas and refusing to listen to others; you think you know what is best because it is your business after all. When this happens your people tend not to be honest and just comply. When you have a tendency to work alone; you have the tendency to only hear your own ideas. We all need checks and balances. A coach can help you with that.
When your culture becomes frustrating
Your culture is a big piece of your success. When your people feel appreciated, they will go the extra mile for you. A great time to work with an executive coach is when you find yourself repeatedly frustrated by others around you at work, or when you realize that you have unhealthy workplace dynamics, and you're not sure how to shift them. The unbiased perspective of a coach can be just what you need to correct the dynamics and create a culture in which your people flourish.
When you want to grow your company
All the previously mentioned reasons all lead up to this one. You want to grow your company, but you feel overwhelmed. You need a confidant to talk with about the business. You know what to do, but don't do it. You can’t get out of your own way and are looking for the best way to do things. You find yourself not willing to listen to others or your culture becomes frustrating. It’s time to hire a coach, so what are you waiting for? It’s time to pull the chute, take a breath, get yourself back in control, take a moment to see where you’re at and where you want to go. Let an experienced coach - guide, support and help you make the transition.
If you identified with any of these reasons, don’t delay. Click here to book a 1-hour free consultation with me. It’s time to get stop doing the same things and expect different results. Let’s reach your business goals, together.
Have specific questions? Drop me an email at jeff@pullthechute.net.
Download this FREE video checklist to reclaim your time and take your business to the next level.
Comentários