As you might expect, the job of a business coach revolves around helping business owners to learn the most efficient and effective ways to manage their companies. Like personal trainers, life coaches, guidance counselors, and so on, these professionals aim to provide floundering businesses with the support, advice, and planning and organizational skills needed to move forward and achieve goals. But before you can get started you need to find an appropriate business coach. Here are just a few tips to help you in the hiring process.
As with hiring for most professional services, the best way to start is by asking for referrals. Talk to family members, friends, colleagues, other business owners, and various trusted sources of information to find a highly recommended business coach. Just keep in mind that some of these professionals may be suitable for one type of business, but not for others. So even though a friend had great success with the person they hired, it doesn’t necessarily herald the right fit for your company. You may have to kiss a lot of frogs, so to speak, before you find the prince that can help you to turn your company around.
And it may be the case that no one in your inner circle has any recommendations. Directories are the next place to look, especially if they feature consumer reviews that can give you additional insight into which candidates might best meet your needs. And once you’ve found a few viable options, you’ll need to set up consultations and get bids for work. The thing to keep in mind is that business coaches can provide a variety of services. Before you enter into the hiring process, you must first figure out what you need.
A business coach could be a consultant, especially if he/she is familiar with your industry, your business model, and so on. This person could also specialize is efficiency or organization, with a view to helping you develop these skills. Maybe you need to learn how to communicate appropriately with employees, clients, and vendors, or you need help with public speaking. Or you might be looking for someone to offer advice when you’re floundering or to help you get into a head space that is more confident and conducive to conducting business. If you know what you are looking for where services are concerned you’re much more likely to find the coach that is right for you.
As for seeking qualifications, you should probably be aware that some business coaches do not have degrees, and this may or may not affect their ability to guide you. Business coaching is not an exact science and it could cover a broad range of topics, skillsets, and professional experience. So a business or psychology degree might not necessarily make for a “better” business coach.
That said, you should still ask for references so you can hear from satisfied customers and gain more insight into how particular coaches from organizations like Catalyst Action Coaching might help you take your business to the next level (or save it from failure). Knowing where you need to improve and exercising due diligence in the hiring process will help to ensure that you find the business coach most capable of helping you to improve in your professional life.