How to find the right business coach

As a small business owner, finding the right business coach can be an absolute game-changer for the success of your business. An experienced business coach can help you overcome challenges, provide specific guidance that is suited to your business, and help you grow your business faster. There are actually so many great benefits of hiring a business coach!

However, finding the right coach who is a good fit can be more difficult than you think. Not all business coaches are the same. In fact, there is so much variety in how a business coach works and how they help. It can feel overwhelming trying to find one that will work well for you and your specific business.

I have hired many coaches for myself over the 20 years I have been in business. Some were a great fit for me, and some were terrible! Getting the right fit with a coach is crucial to whether they can get you results.

I do want to be clear, just because a coach isn’t the right fit for you, doesn’t mean they are not a great coach. It more than likely means that they are just not a great fit for you.

Small business owners have diverse needs and desires. There are different coaches who can fit those different needs and help create the different desires.

Because the decision can feel overwhelming, I wanted to give you some tips on how to find the right business coach for you and your business. This information could save you a lot of time and pain by avoiding hiring someone that isn’t a fit.

Finding a business coach who is a good fit:

1. Identify your needs and desires

Before you start looking for a business coach, it is important to identify your needs and the outcomes you want to achieve from working with a coach.

Ask yourself, what areas of your business do you want to improve? What challenges are you facing? And what specific outcomes do you want to create? Are there particular areas of your business that you need a lot of help in? Do you need help with marketing, sales, finances, staff, or leadership?

Yes, a coach can help you discover and refine these. But if you have clarity in advance, then you can better establish if you are a good fit to work together.

Not all business coaches are experienced in all areas of business, and so knowing this upfront can save you a lot of wasted time and money.

2. Look for experience

When looking for a business coach, look for someone who has real world experience in business. Qualifications are great, but if someone hasn’t done the hard yards of growing a business then it can be hard for them to truly understand and help you through the constant challenges that can come up.

A coach who has experience working with businesses similar to yours will have a better understanding of your industry specific challenges and can provide relevant advice. You can also look at their testimonials or reviews from their past clients to get an idea of their coaching style, areas of expertise and effectiveness.

3. Evaluate their coaching style

Every coach has a unique coaching style, and it is important to find a coach whose style resonates with you. It is hard to work with someone if their style is agitating you, rather than supporting you.

Some coaches are more directive, while others take a more collaborative approach. Some coaches may focus on mindset and motivation, while others may focus on practical strategies and tactics. Some can include a spiritual element to their coaching, while others are purely focused on the concrete strategies. Some coaches have a nurturing nature, while others take more of a distant and firm approach.

You need to find a coach whose coaching style aligns with your personality and learning style in order to get the best out of the work you do together. Think about how you normally grow the best. No matter who the coach is, they will be stretching your comfort zone and getting you to see things that you might not like. So have a think about the style that will best support you during that journey.

4. Consider the coaching medium and structure

Group or individual coaching? In person or online coaching? The medium and structure can make a difference in the results that you get from a coach.

Do you shine and push yourself more when you are in a group setting? Or does individual guidance and support work best for you? A good coach will be stretching your comfort zone and the setting you are in is important to get clear on what will work best for you.

If you get pushed by seeing others moving forward or you like external recognition when you get results, then a group setting might be a better fit.

If you are more of a lone wolf that doesn’t like group settings and are happy to take guidance and action on your own, then the individual coaching is likely to be a better option for you.

If you are short of time, then online coaching is ideal because you don’t need to spend time travelling. But if you are a people person who only feels connected if you are meeting in person, then that would suit you better.

5. Check their availability and communication

It is important to find a coach whose availability is in alignment with your schedule. Consider their availability, response time, and communication style before deciding.

You want to make sure that you can book in with the coach around your schedule or be willing to adjust. It might be that they only have sessions in the morning and that might not work for you if you are responsible for getting kids off to school. If your coach is overseas from where you are, then it is important to consider time zone differences as well as the availability that they have.

Also check out if there is any support between sessions. Some coaches will provide email or phone support between coaching sessions, while with others you will need to wait till your next session to get help if you get stuck or have questions.

6. Look for trust, inspiration and connection

The relationship between you and your coach is critical to the success of the coaching process. You will be sharing intimate details of your business, finances and processes. So, it is important that you can trust and feel comfortable with the coach that you are working with. The more honest you can be, the more the more the business coach can help you move forward.

Look for a coach who you feel comfortable talking to and who listens to you without judgment. If you are both in alignment, then the rapport and connection will build over time. Also look for a coach who can inspire you to take action and move forward on your goals.

7. Check their pricing and packages

Business coaches have different pricing structures and packages. Some coaches charge by the hour, while others offer packages that include a set number of coaching sessions. What extra support do they offer between sessions? What other benefits come as part of the package?

Look for a coach whose pricing and packages are within your budget and offer the services you need.

Lastly, do check if there is a fixed time period for the packages, or any minimum commitment to their programs before you can cancel. Business coaching can take some time for the results to fully come to fruition, so a longer coaching period is usually beneficial for you. But if it ends up that the coaching relationship isn’t working then it is important to know if you are locked in or can cancel at any time.

Finding the right business coach for small business owners is crucial for success. A coach can help you achieve your business goals, avoid setbacks and fast track the results you want to create. Remember that a good coach is an investment in your business, and choosing the right one can make all the difference.

If you’re looking to grow and streamline your business and you have an established business that is ready for its next level of awesomeness then message me and let’s chat about how I can help you achieve that or visit the Work With Us page to see the coaching options.