The Coach
When you hear the word “COACH”, what does it mean to you?
Someone who helps you achieve your goals?
Makes you practice?
Provides direction?
Helps you win?
“Coach” seems to be a buzzword these days and it can apply to any type of hobby, lifestyle, career choice, and sport. Just think about where you have heard it. “life coach” “fitness coach” “sports coach” “executive coach” “acting coach” and “birth coach”…you get the idea!
At KLO, I have been working with a group of clients who have asked for my help as a “business coach”. People may need a business coach for a variety of reasons. Maybe they are a small business owner and don’t have someone to bounce things off of. Perhaps they work in a larger business but need perspective from someone that doesn’t work with them. When people work independently sometimes they just need someone to hold them accountable, in a way “be the boss”. And driven professionals may be looking for someone that can understand where they are in their career and more importantly where they want to go and how to get there.
What this means is that I spend time understanding what things people want to achieve or are struggling with, talk about the “why” and together find solutions that will work for them. The solutions can be as simple as making a list and getting things done (the easy ones!). The solutions may also involve education & learning new things, finding opportunities to practice new skills, and possibly doing research to understand industry standards. My job is to ask them tough questions, make them think, push them to achieve more than they think is possible, and hold them accountable for getting it done.
So what happens when the client doesn’t do what they said they would? WHAT?!? Yes, sometimes individuals may not accomplish what they set out to do. When this happens we have to take a step back to talk about why. What is the explanation or excuse? How are they prioritizing their time and allowing other things to be ahead of their stated goals? Once we understand the true cause, we can move forward to success. It’s also important to remember that the client is solely responsible for creating and implementing his/her own decisions, plans, projects, etc. The coach can’t do the work. It's also worth mentioning, that if you are going to hire a coach, be coachable! You have to be willing to listen, interact and work hard.
My personal goal for my coaching clients is that every time we meet, they walk away with something new. A new perspective, a new tool to use, a new goal, and new wins to celebrate.
In a few weeks, I will be sharing a business coaching case study from one of my clients. What the experience has been like for them, how our sessions have changed over time, and most importantly what results they have seen in their business.