I have been thinking about business coaching a lot lately. I think the reason I’ve been thinking about business coaching is because I have been doing it for a long time, whether it’s in the corporate world or in my own consulting business.
I’m not a certified coach but I’ve had a lot of training in leadership and retail sales development. The reason I’ve never become a certified coach is that I don’t want to give up my ability to help someone get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. That’s what I believe business coaching should be all about – helping someone move from where they are to where they want to be as quickly as they can.
Sometimes that means showing people the exact steps they need to take, and sometimes it’s about holding the space to allow them to figure it out on their own.
I spoke to a wise woman recently on Facebook and we were chatting about business coaching. She said she’s finally in the space to do some of the things she wants to do in her business and she realized she doesn’t need “a coach to dictate to her what to do.” That statement really resonated with me. It really got into my head.
I never want to be a coach that dictates.
My clients call me “Bossy Pants”…because I am a little bossy. But, I know how to get stuff done. I know that sometimes you need a little bossiness in order to help you get unstuck.
For me, the magic formula is to dissolve the glue that keeps someone stuck doing the same old, same old thing over and over when they really want something different.
To me, that is the art of being a successful coach – it’s your ability to inspire and move others to take action that they wouldn’t have taken on their own so that they can get the results that they want in their life.
Why is coaching important? Because often we can’t see our own greatness in the mirror, we only see our flaws. When you work with a coach, they should be holding up the mirror to show you your greatness. Your coach should also be holding up the mirror to show you where to go next and to inspire you to do the things that make you uncomfortable so that you can have what you really want in life.
I don’t necessarily think that just because something makes you uncomfortable that it’s the right thing to do, but if it’s part of the methodology to get you to where you really want to be then you have to consider doing what is necessary.
A coach needs to be able to help figure out what technique is going to move the needle furthest and fastest for you.
I think people deserve to be coached, and mentored, and guided in their life and in their business. When someone gives you the opportunity to do that work with them, it is sacred work.
A good business coach should help you to become a stronger businessperson and to build your confidence as an individual around who you are and how you run your business.
I think people need to talk more about what they want from a coach.
A coach isn’t going to come in and save your business.
A coach isn’t going to come in and do the work for you.
A coach is there to mentor, and guide you, and help you.
A coach is there to get into the muck when you’re strategizing and help you figure out where to go, and to help you determine what path is the right path for you.
Sometimes when we are in our own stuff we can’t see the path clearly.
When you work with someone who can help you see that path clearly you can get better results in your business.
Business coaching is important and we business coaches have a responsibility to treat people a certain way. To guide, and support, and help them accomplish what they most want in life.
If you have tips on dissolving the glue that keeps people stuck, I’d love to hear what they are – leave them in the comments below.
