Why
your business needs a life coach….
by Joanne Mansell
In an earlier article I said:
“In today’s business world having a Life Coach is
no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Along
side customers and staff a life coach is one of the most important people to
your business”
Let’s look at why:
Thomas Leonard (the founder of Coach-U) says a life coach is:
Your
partner in achieving professional goals;
Your
champion during a turnaround;
Your
trainer in communication and life skills;
Your
sounding board when making choices;
Your
motivator when strong action is called for;
Your
unconditional support when you take a hit;
Your
mentor in personal development;
Your
co-designer when developing an extraordinary project;
Your
beacon during stormy times;
Your
wake-up call if you don’t hear your own
…and
most importantly; your coach is your partner in living the life you know
you’re ready for, personally and professionally.”
It’s a great start, I would like
to add or expand on a few things.
As a
coach to franchisees and small business owners I’d say an outstanding
business/life coach is also:
·
Someone
who isn’t tied to your business so the advice
you get is impartial and not a tainted point of view which can come from an
“upline” or someone with a vested interest in the success of the franchise.
·
Someone
to work with you about YOU.
Even a franchise with a fantastic product and bullet-proof systems can fall down
if the key people (particularly the franchisee) lack certain behaviours, beliefs
and capabilities, including:
-
visualisation and a vision for the business –
where do you want to go!
-
goal setting and attainment strategies – how are you going to achieve
your vision?
-
the ability to prioritise and utilise time effectively
-
empowering beliefs which support success. Beliefs that "this
business can be a success" and that "I can be a success in this
business" - one is about capability/possibility and the other is about your
ability to make it work.
-
professional behaviours such as punctuality, maintaining a professional
appearance and quality tools/equipment/merchandise.
-
discipline
to follow the systems and procedures where they exist, or to document procedures
if they do not exist.
-
communication skills to maximise interactions with your team, customers,
and prospects.
-
self motivation and leadership.
·
Someone
to work with you about the business,
someone to ask the “hard questions”. These
are questions that will change the course of your business, its profitability
and your success. Sometimes they
are hard because you don’t know the answers, sometimes they are hard because
you don’t want to face the truth about the answers.
Whichever is true for you, you will benefit from answering these
questions, and you will benefit even more from answering them along with a coach
so you can immediately start on strategies to make the changes your business
needs. If you are starting a
franchise, answering these questions before you start will give you and your
business the best possible chance of success.
-
What is your key product?
-
What is your marketing strategy?
-
Who are your customers? How
do they find you (or do you find them)?
-
Who are your competitors? What
is happening in the industry?
-
Where is your business headed? What
is likely to change this – for example changes in the industry, your niche,
the political or business environment, laws and legislations, new inventions…
-
Why are you doing what you are doing?
Are you in this business out of necessity or by choice?
Is this business your passion and aligned with your values?
-
What changes do you need to make? Do
you need more customers? More
repeat sales? More referrals? How are you going to achieve these things?
-
When are you going to make the investment in your business and hire the
people who would help your business grow? Is
this a coach, an accountant or someone else?
and finally
When
are you booking your FREE 30 minute coaching session to get started on making
your business the success you deserve?
Like
many things in Life Coaching they sound very simple and most of us “know what
to do”.
But
are you doing it? Are you doing it
consistently?
What
would have to change in you or your environment for you to “do what you
know”?
For
more information on these concepts, or to book a business or life coaching
session with the author, Joanne Mansell please phone 0416 181 654.
The first half hour consultation is complimentary.
Joanne
is a co-author of a business and life coaching book due for release mid-2002 –
see www.kaizencoaching.com.au
for more information about the book, and for copies of her other small business
articles.
Joanne
Mansell, Kaizen Coaching – “Mind, Body, Life Fitness”
| 