Not just data
Business coaching focuses on business performance. This isn’t just about data - although this is of course important. It goes beyond the narrower view that, say, an accountant or bank manager might take, to look at key people relationships as well.
These might be between you, your team, the people on the shop floor - and also your key customers. Often the way you both lead and manage the business may have a significant impact on performance. A good work/life balance is important so that you maintain your energy, enthusiasm and good health..
How is Coaching different?
Coaching is a particular way of working with people that helps them, with the support of the coach, to work through the business challenges they face. The main point is that by working with a coach, the business owner or manager develops and retains for the future the skills and understanding that come out of the coaching sessions. Typically a coaching relationship will last for six months or so with a mix of face to face and telephone coaching.
Who’s the Expert?
Business coaches don’t have to be expert in the nature of your business – that’s you! They should, however, have ‘been around the block’ in a general business sense. It’s also a good sign if they have a recognised coaching accreditation.
What good coaches do
Good coaches will use a wide range of techniques These might include a standard process to make sure the meetings are not just interesting conversations but have tangible outputs. You should find you set the agenda and do most of the talking. The coach will carefully use questions to drill down to the root of the matter under discussion. Coaching becomes mentoring when you ask for some specific input on, say, a technical issue. This is fine, but a good coach will want to go back to his/her coaching style as soon as this is done.
Buy locally
It often makes sense to use some one who works locally as I do in the Thames Valley area – counties like Berkshire, Middlesex, Surrey and Hampshire and business centres such as Ascot, Bracknell, Reading, Guildford,, Maidenhead, Slough and Staines.
