Business coaching has a reputation for being reserved for CEO’s and the elite.  What happens in those mysterious sessions and would it actually be helpful for you?  Time to shed some light on this secret of successful business leaders and ask yourself, “Do I need a business coach?”

A business coach is an expert in personal strategy, execution, and growth.  Their specialty is helping you identify what is really holding you back and how to use your specific strengths, experience, and values to overcome those obstacles.  It’s the inverse of business seminars and books that provide a very broad approach designed to appeal to the masses. 

Some coaches also serve as mentors and teachers.  This type of coach has relevant business experience that can enhance the coaching process and results.  Imagine a mid-level employee trying to fight their way to a senior leadership position.  How beneficial would it be to work with an expert career coach who has already achieved the same goals (and helped dozens of others achieve them)?

Should I hire a coach?

Hiring a coach is similar to hiring a lawyer for legal expertise or an accountant for complex financial matters.  They have a specific purpose and set of skills to help you move forward in business.  A great coach can be helpful when:

• You are stuck and don’t know how to move forward.  Finding a job, missed promotions, career planning, your leader is a bosshole, etc.
• You are overwhelmed or lost.  Business can be nauseatingly complex and overwhelm even the most competent executives (the higher you go, the more overwhelming it often feels.)
• What you are doing isn’t working.  When your plans don’t generate results or your best efforts aren’t enough, a coach can help you quickly identify what’s causing your challenges and how to overcome them.

CEOs and business owners face these challenges daily and each moment spent overwhelmed, unsure, or just plain stuck impacts every aspect of their company.  A coach can help them power through issues quickly, and they can help you too.  Here are some questions a coach would likely ask you in your first session to help you decide if it’s a good fit for your situation:

“How much is overwhelm, uncertainty, and being stuck costing you?  Missed promotions, overlooked for opportunities, loss of time, declining health and sanity?”

“Where would you be right now if you had a professional helping you find the shortest path to success and hitting your goals along the way?  More money, less stress, better position, happiness?”

What to expect

Typical on-the-job coaching from a boss is nothing like working with a trained professional.  Many companies encourage (force) leaders to “coach” their employees without any training.  The typical experience is:  punishment if you make a mistake and piling on more work if you are performing well.  This is not coaching… not even close.

Professional coaching is a series of strategic conversations crafted to dive deep into your personal and professional challenges and find solutions.  The process will illuminate why past efforts were unsuccessful and identify new ways to leverage your strengths and experience to move forward.  Your coach is your guide to obtaining a deeper level of satisfaction at work and in life.

Most coaches offer a free first session to make sure you are a good fit for each other.  Take advantage of this and ask great questions while you’re trying it out. 

• How does the process work?
• What training and experience do you have?
• What makes you different from all the other coaches out there?
• How will you help me with my situation?
• How do we measure success?

The Value of Coaching

Hiring a professional business coach is one of the ways the ultra-successful get ahead.  It’s an investment that will uncover valuable new insights about yourself that you can use to better your career and life.  It also generates a series of strategies and plans specifically tailored to your unique situation.  This is a vastly superior approach over trying to implement some famous CEO’s plan from a book or seminar.  The business giants are great for tips and inspiration, but it’s no substitute for having your own plan.

To learn more about coaching at Insider on Demand or book a free introductory session, check out our coaching page.