Blog by Coach Frank Bonnin
If you are a business owner and are considering hiring a business coach, there are a few things that you should look for. First, do some research to learn about the coach. What is their experience? Do they work with businesses like yours? What coaching system do they utilize? Does the coach have a system? If the coach is going to be helping you create systems, the coach should have systems themselves.
Is the coach focused on business? For instance, are they a Life Coach that also focuses on business? Life coaches are great and they help people in a lot of ways. Life coaches are not business coaches. Business coaches have some life coaching ability, but really they know that the business is the vehicle that will bring the business owner to the goals and dreams that they are aiming for. As a business coach, they need to be able to address very specifically and very knowledgeably the aspects of what makes a business work, what makes a business succeed.
The business coach must understand all the aspects of business. They must understand everything from the financials to sales and marketing, to client experience, and team building, etc. Not all coaches know those things, so research their professional experience prior to becoming a coach and their experience as a business coach.
Next thing you want to look at when hiring a business coach is the credibility of the prospective business coach. We live in a reputational society. It is so easy now to find out what other people say about businesses, organizations, and other people. Researching the reviews of a prospective business coach should be easy to do. Read all their reviews on Google, Facebook, etc. Are they from business owners? Are the reviews related to the business itself?
Do the reviews specifically address the things that you are hoping to get out of working with a business coach? For instance, if you are looking for help reaching financial goals, do any of the reviews address that? Maybe your goal is to work less in the business to have more free time with your family. Are there any reviews that address that?
Make sure you meet in person before hiring a business coach. You will be working very closely with your business coach for a good while, so you want to be sure that it is a comfortable relationship. Do you like their personality? Are they a positive person? Are they direct? It will be most beneficial if you can build a good rapport with your coach. Remember that they are a coach! This person will be providing education, holding you accountable and cheering you on, just like any sports coach.
Does the business coach offer any sort of Guarantee? If so, make sure you get all the details on this guarantee. Ask if they have had any situation in which they could not help a business owner and gave their money back. If they do not have a guarantee, ask why that is the case.
Does the coach offer a complimentary coaching session? This is a great way to get a sense of how the business coach works and how they can help you specifically. If they do offer a free session, take them up on it! It will help you determine whether you can build a good rapport. Make sure to prepare your questions ahead of time to take full advantage of the complimentary coaching session. Afterwards, take stock of how you felt leaving the session. Did the coach leave you feeling inspired, like you can achieve your goals and dreams?
When hiring a business coach also consider whether the coach has a variety of program / coaching options from which to choose? Businesses vary greatly in size and revenue. Some business owners have the time and capital to devote to 1 to 1 coaching right away. However, some smaller business owners or solopreneurs may not be able to do so yet. If that is the case, what other coaching options are provided?
Last, but not least, when hiring a business coach don’t rush into a commitment! Hiring a business coach is a big deal. It is meant to be a long-term relationship and will be a significant investment of your time, energy, and resources. Avoid high-pressure sales tactics. A good business coach understands that business coaching is an investment and will give you the space you need to make your decision.
