When trying to expand your business, hiring a business coach can provide you with beneficial tools for your business. A good business coach will enhance your skills and contribute to the growth of the company. On the contrary, a bad business coach can do the opposite. Therefore, you should do your research before you hire a business coach. Following are seven common mistakes to avoid when hiring a business coach:
- Hiring a coach with inadequate experience- Many people claim to be business coaches these days, but that can be a very broad term. Your business coach should have experience in successfully running a business or have deep business education. They need to understand the realities of the business world and know what it takes to lead and grow a company. Business coaching is so much more than just confidence-boosting (that’s more in the realm of mindset coaching). It is about enhancing your leadership and business skills and helping you create the right strategies and plans to grow your business efficiently and profitably. An inexperienced coach can cost you time and money and can negatively affect the growth of your business.
- Not giving due importance to coach-client rapport- Your coach may have an excellent track record, but you may not get desired results if the two of you are not a good personality fit. Take the time to talk with a prospective coach to determine whether you two have a genuine rapport and chemistry; they must be aligned with your values and understand your goals. Today, most coaching takes place remotely through phone calls, emails, and video meetings. Therefore, ensure that you have a good rapport with the coach via technology too.
- Not reading and understanding the agreement carefully- It is essential to trust your business coach deeply as you will be sharing confidential information. Ensure that your contract includes confidentiality clauses, especially when extremely sensitive or proprietary information is at stake. Also, be sure to understand the deliverables of the coaching agreement and the expectations of you and your coach.
- Hiring someone with limited connections- Many business owners make the mistake of hiring a business coach with limited contacts. The experience and advice that your business coach gives you are invaluable, but an even more valuable asset is their network of connections. They can help you build beneficial relationships in your industry and beyond. Remember that a strong network will contribute to your business’s growth more than anything else.
- Skipping the background check- A quick search about a person on Google or their social media profiles can reveal a lot about them. Use these resources to determine the authenticity of the coach. Look for their testimonials, see if they have relevant qualifications, and check out their professional history. If you are unable to find information about their experience and expertise, it is a red flag.
- Hiring a friend- A major rule of business that is too frequently broken is never work with your friends and family. They may hold back their opinions and not advise you objectively, which may deteriorate your business, relationship, or both. You want someone that can advise you without any hidden agendas. Therefore, you should never work with your friends or family.
- Not knowing what your ultimate goal is- You should always be clear on your goals. Business coaches and consultants cannot read your mind. Coming to them with an unclear plan to improve your business overall won’t yield instant results. Before approaching the coach, evaluate your business performance and look for areas that specifically need improvement.
About the business
The team at Inspire & Drive brings you over 20 years of business coaching and consulting experience across a broad range of industries. We specialize in helping creative businesses owners to create a S.I.M.P.L.E Plan© so you can effectively scale your business without stress. If you’d like our help to take your business to the next level, visit us at www.inspireanddrive.com or Schedule a discovery call today.