The Core Value Behind Business Coaches [2 Steps For Picking Your Own]
It’s not about giving up the reins. It’s about equipping yourself to make smart, informed decisions…
Have you ever watched a kids soccer game? I’m not talking about third graders; those kids are scary. I’m talking about 2-year old toddlers. Armed with a couple loose guidelines about the sport, these tykes line up neatly together on the field, where a brave adult drops a ball and dives out of the way.
What happens next? Chaos. Adorable and hilarious chaos.
Half the kids bum-rush the ball, while the other half watch wide-eyed or turn and wave to their parents. Even with the field shrunken down to a fraction of the normal size, it feels like days before one of the kids eventually finds his way to the goal. There’s no real force guiding the game along. There’s very little (if any) coaching.
Fast forward a few years, and you’ll already see a marked difference in the level of player maturity. Beyond the obvious age difference, you’ll note the beginnings of team coordination and role fulfillment. Each kid is carefully guided along by the trusted hand of the coach. This personal and group-level development continues all the way through high-school and university.
Even in the initial stages of joining the workforce, many have managers to guide their professional progression. Then one day you become the boss, and something magical happens. Your mind is suddenly filled with all knowledge and business wisdom in the universe, and all your decisions are flawless. Or… you struggle.
And you eventually realize you need someone to help.
Part 1 (of 3): Enter the Business Coach
No amount of quotes from business icons, war generals, or yoga gurus is going to wizard your company to success. Let’s face it: you’re not a wizard Harry. That means you’re going to have to develop an actionable plan to get this enterprise off the ground and into the air. That means you’re going to need a coach.
This is where half of business leaders start shaking their fists, flex their intellectual arms and snark “Pfft! Please. I was at the top of my class at XYZ University. I can do this by myself.” While a handful of these managers, entrepreneurs and C-Suite execs will prevail (eventually), the vast majority will only achieve a modicum of success, at best.
That’s because we’re still those preschoolers, flailing our arms around and kicking the ball every which way until the game is over.
With an experienced business coach in your corner, you’ll start learning the rules of the game and discover what it takes to be successful as a leader. A coach doesn’t play/lead for you, they simply arm you with the insight you’ll need. And when your business coach is finished, you’ll be equipped with the tools you require to win.
The only thing you have to do is find the right coach.
Part 2 (of 3): Weeding Out the No-Go’s
If your business can’t afford Gary Hamel (famous business icon), that’s okay. There are thousands of professional consultants eager to guide your business along; you just need to narrow down your options. Start with a rough list of candidates and aggressively weed out the no-go’s. For making your initial list, look for a few key qualifications:
- Proven Success Within Your Industry or a Related Field
- (Ideally) a Documented History of Consulting Work
- Affordability and Accessibility
- Professional Character
We’ll talk a little more on personal character traits to hunt for, but let’s point out some serious red flags first.
Jairek Robbins spells out some key reasons why business coaches fail, which also serve as signs you need to say “Thanks, but no thanks.” The most important signal a coaching candidate will be a bad fit is a hypocritical lifestyle. If a professional coach can’t manage to apply their own doctrine and get their business and/or personal life together, they shouldn’t have the right to consult for your company.
There’s a good reason why the US presidential candidates are required by law to be at least 35 years of age.
If a candidate doesn’t have applicable industry experience, kick them to the curb (nicely). There are plenty of motivation speakers out there, but your business needs actionable insight, not Lee Iacocca quotes or generalizations. Ask evocative questions to test industry knowledge and application skills. An experienced business coach knows how to prove themselves.
Finally, steer clear of dogmatic personalities. Even the most experienced industry expert may not have the necessary coaching skills to help your business. Anyone can bark commands and supply the “how’s” of business. Not everyone can guide you and provide the “why’s”.
Part 3 (of 3): Hunt for Exceptional Character
Your filtered list of coaching candidates should now outline the most qualified professionals within your company’s budget range. At this point, many of them will share equally impressive resumes and industry experience. The decision you make will greatly affect the future of your company and your potency as a leader, so choose carefully.
The handful of brilliant industry experts you have left now have two final tasks to complete to earn your trust: prove their value to your company; and show their professional character.
What does this look like during an interview?
- Data Application
- Strategic Planning
- Management Goal Creation and Completion
- Change Management
- Customized Insights for Your Business
- Personal Discipline
- Accountability
- Teaching Skill
Whether your company needs C-suite counsel, social customer service expertise or financial consulting, the best coaching experts are driven by data. Look for a coach that will carefully identify your needs and tailor their work to provide the most bang for your buck. Find someone with the teaching skills to communicate these changes, and you’re golden!
Parting Thoughts
Deb Knobelman, PhD, points out the difficult nature of decision making and the underlying psychology behind this challenge.
…We don’t want to make the ‘wrong’ choice. The choice that will result in one of two things (or both):
1. We will beat ourselves up for making the wrong decision
2. Other people will judge our choice and therefore, us
So we make no choice at all. And the problem gets worse. Or the opportunity is missed.
Don’t let the fear of picking the wrong business coach keep you from seeking insight for your business and missing out on growth. The easiest way to succeed in business (and in life) is by following the advice of those who’ve already conquered the challenges we now face. Even the most experienced industry experts seek advice from other professionals. Take their cue and transform your business for the better!
