By Evan Vitale
If business is poor, sometimes we might seek the advice of a business coach to help pull us out of the muck and get us back on the road to potential success.
However, perhaps the best time to hire a business coach is when you feel you don’t need one.
Huh?
If business is great, then you must obviously be doing something right. However, by bringing in a business coach, he/she might see potential for future expansion and growth. There’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion.
Coaches typically see and present things by offering a different perspective (for example, marketing techniques and ideas). A good business coach will ask a lot of questions and will give great advice. You, too should be asking questions and listening to their responses.
You could schedule one or two initial meetings with a coach to get a feel for their style and expertise and see if there’s a good fit. Of course, you’re going to have to be comfortable with revealing information about your business (most business coaches will sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement) before you even give full consideration to hiring a business coach.
A client of mine was doing very well with his business, but opted to hire a business coach to see if he could/should be doing things differently. He was on the right path to continued success, but the business coach offered sound advice in the areas of financials, employees and staff changes, offering new business referrals and ideas and making sure the business owner was taking care of himself by suggesting he take vacations and enjoy weekend and holiday time away from the office.
Even when things are going great, it’s always a smart decision to consult with a business coach. He/she can be a valuable partner for your company.