Doing It Yourself Does Not Mean You Have To Do It Alone
A noteworthy change in the behavior of business owners has been taking place over the last few years. The concept understood by successful athletes, that they can improve their performance by using a coach, has been adopted with increasing success by the business world. More and more business owners and executives realize that by working one on one with a coach they can resolve difficult issues that they have been struggling with and feel they have come to better decisions in the process. And, more important, they are finding satisfaction from achieving the goals they set when they started their business venture.
There are several attributes to a successful coaching relationship:
- The client sets the agenda - this is about you and your business,
- Commitment to the process - accountability to do what we say we'll do.
- Communication is king - open, honest, direct.
A Case History
The typical coaching engagement starts with a business issue to resolve, and may evolve into something bigger. A recent client wanted to focus on a hiring dilemma. As we talked, it became clear that the real issue was about her easing into retirement and the lack of a succession plan for the business. Once we discovered the real issue, she was able to make her hiring decision with greater clarity and confidence. She was also motivated to spend time thinking about the future and how she wanted to exit the business. Being able to clarify the real issue helped her put together a game plan, and it helped her relax.
