Many entrepreneurs attribute at least some of their success to having a great business coach. Anyone can ask that difficult question and lend their experience and network if needed. But finding a business coach is not easy. Strongly involved in your business and personal life. To find a productive relationship, there are many reasons to consider.
Entrepreneurs share the most important features for business coaches
Most importantly, alignment is a foundation on which a successful coaching relationship can be built, and therefore the desired traits between coach and client cannot be underestimated. I asked the entrepreneurs to tell the most important features of a business trainer and the responses fall into four sections.
Characteristics
Many entrepreneurs have mentioned the character traits of their coaches. Entrepreneurs are looking for qualities that make a trainer effective but also preferred. Kate Tompset of Happy & Glorious says, “For me, it’s about a personal connection. If I don’t like someone, I’m never going to do well with them!” I look for humor, empathy and encouragement. “
“Of course the characteristics are honesty and business acumen,” says trainer Alison Callan, “a difficult process and system for building a secure and confidential container that builds relationships and trust,” which must be explored.
Business psychologist Fiona Cairns believes that the key features are “honesty, strategic thinking and art insight.” Jason Rawls recommends “vision, empathy and tolerance” as well as more practical elements such as “experience, proven credibility, connectivity and network”.
Great character and interpersonal skills are a solid start, but it is clear that coaches must have other qualities to be effective. Some entrepreneurs firmly believe that business instructors must have personal success to guide them from a position of experience.
Personal success
Many trainers talk about their skills for developing success among entrepreneurs, it is best to cut through the noise. Many of the entrepreneurs I asked told me that they felt more comfortable working with an instructor who was a successful entrepreneur in their own right.
Entrepreneur Daniel Priestley says, “It’s unpopular to say, but I like that my coaches give results on their own.” He further explained that “they don’t need to build a billion-dollar brand or have thousands of employees but I want to see them succeed and have respect for their non-coaching achievements.” Is it enough for a coach to have a good coach or do they have to have their own success in business?
“If you don’t want a good speaker then find out they can’t walk. You want someone honest about their background, their challenges, their failures, their lessons learned, their personal victories. “I don’t work,” says Martin Norberry of Friday.
Finding someone with personal coaching success and moving away from the track record and experience relevant to your situation can be an added benefit.
Entrepreneurs share the most important features for business coaches
Relevant experience
Knowledge related to running a marketing company is different from drop-shipping business or SaaS. Knowing the ins and outs of the automotive industry is limited to anyone operating in the hospitality sector. While this may not be a contract-breaker, some business owners highly reward relevant experience.
Ravi Davda from Rockstar Marketing has used a number of business coaches in the past. “I didn’t get much benefit when they were in a completely different industry or not doing what I wanted to do (which was managed by a successful marketing company). So I found that one. It worked incredibly well. “
Dr. Ayesha Iqbal “Looking for someone who walks the same path as me, understands my niche and is flexible towards what I can do. I don’t think coaches should have a size to fit everything because every business is unique. “
Field experience puts a coach in a strong position to give their clients more practical advice and counsel. Trainers may have more relevant acquaintances so they can take advantage when they can help the business grow.
However, not everyone agrees. Alison Callan isn’t looking for “just someone who’s where I was or where I want to go because I don’t want to emulate someone else’s journey but to create my own.” Instead, “I’m looking for someone who represents the same values as me and my business.”
Share value
Perhaps the most emotionally expressed feature was the common values for business coaches with their clients. “If you have a coach who believes in tough hosting, but your number one value is freedom, you can build a successful business, but you can’t create happiness,” Alexandria Maria suggested.
“Some business instructors point to just one model and you don’t consider it,” said Susie Ramprup, a mentoring coach.
Business Instructor Melita Campbell agrees, “They must be consistent with your business platform, values and personality. While part of their job will be to challenge you to become your best, you don’t want to work with a business coach who uses techniques that don’t fit your style, personality, business or brand. “
Values indicate many aspects of the coach-client relationship. Close alignment means a shared understanding of what success looks like on many levels. Sometimes, a discrepancy can be fruitful, enabling alternative worldviews and priorities to surface and consider. In terms of balance, entrepreneurs prefer harmony.
Finding the right business trainer is the difference between your successful snowballing and stalling on all plateau mothers. Before you sign papers or even start your search, understand exactly what you are looking for in your coach. Don’t be afraid to investigate their experience and the results they have achieved with others. The more time you spend talking to them, the more you will know their character and their values and whether everything will work out.