COACHES CALL: (full story)
Preparing To Succeed ...If you have found
yourself missing deadlines, unorganized, unable to
return phone calls, late to meetings, not meeting
the goals you set, not following your business
plan, or just not feeling 100% about the success
of you and your business – you might want to think
about talking with a professional business coach.
Just as you assess your clients, coaches need
to assess you, and your needs. The first step in
having a successful relationship with a
professional business coach is identifying that
consulting outside of your office walls may prove
fruitful. The old adage is in fact true – an
objective opinion is often the best opinion.
Before actually speaking with a coach, think about
how you assess your clients and their needs – much
of the same technique is true when working with a
coach. The basic information is of course a given,
but dive a little deeper. What is your motivation
for entertaining partnering with a business coach?
What parts of your business do you feel are not up
to speed? If you merely feel like something is
broken and needs to be fixed, that’s okay too.
When I first speak with my clients, we simply
have a conversation. I believe having an
understanding of their general business practice
is key, but I also inquire about the successes of
the business. Partnering with a coach in no way
means that you and your business are not
successful, in fact, the opposite holds true.
Think of a coach as a tool. Your contact list is a
tool, your e-mail and computer are tools, but the
most important tool is you. You are the key to
your success. Understanding who and what you are
is a very important part of the process. Different
personality types execute their business ideals
differently. Being prepared is something you will
need to practice, but practice makes perfect.
Start thinking on paper (or electronically).
Start with the things in your business that really
work. Add layers to that list with more details.
Think about the things you would like to
implement, good ideas that you have had. Make a
note of those things that perhaps have not worked
well for you. Jot down your routine (if you don’t
have one, I highly recommend getting one!). What
is the first thing you do in the morning, and the
last thing you do in your day? List your goals.
Get some goals. Feed your business, it really is
hungry!
Now comes the really fun part. Same paper, only
personal. What are those habits of yours... good
and bad. Are you detail oriented? Do you write
down everything? Do you write down nothing? Are
vacations important to you? Are you friends with a
lot of your clients? What in your personal life
works really well? And yes, what doesn’t? What are
your personal priorities? What are your favorite
relaxation activities (a bit of an oxymoron). Do
you like to read? How do you spend your downtime?
Do you put off those ‘projects’?
The last step is of course your expectations
and level of commitment. Working with a coach is
exactly that – work, hard work. Define your
expectations. Think about if you are looking for
the magic potion, or if you are really ready to
move you and your business to the next level.
Coaches find often that people are not quite ready
to roll their sleeves up. Finding success by
partnering with a coach requires dedication on
both sides of the relationship. There is lots of
advice out there, and pretty good advice at that.
Having a coach and establishing that tool is
advice customized to you and your business – there
is not much out there of that. Start with a
self-assessment.
Taking a step towards getting a coach is a
fabulous experience. You will find great things
are lying in wait within you, and just need some
coaxing to come out. Freedom. Success.
Accomplishment.
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