While it is true that leadership skills are mostly acquired through experience, there is nothing wrong with having a business coach who can further improve these skills, especially if those skills could save you from painful and costly lessons that you could’ve learned in the first place if you had a mentor.
Many times, business coaches are the men and women behind the curtain of the most successful companies.
Okay, so the term business coach is widely overused these days. I know. So the question now is “Why exactly do I need a business coach if I already have (insert MBA degree or tried and tested leadership skills — or whatever it is that you have, really)?
I’ll tell you why… Business coaches aren’t just for vanity. They also provide:
1. Having a ‘Silent’ Partner
Although having a business might be a one-man show for some people, it can get lonely at times especially if you’re the only one running everything. A business coach can be that ‘someone’ to aid you when the going gets tough. You can ask him questions about anything related to the business, especially if you need a sounding board or impartial advice.
It’s like having a ‘silent’ partner who can squeeze out ideas when you feel out of options, and at the same time push you out of the box to get a completely new perspective on things.
2. An Unbiased, Out-of-Your Comfort Zone Plan for Growth
Every year, leaders make plans to grow their organization in different ways, such as by increasing production or market reach. Halfway through, some leaders end up decreasing their target, rationalizing their decisions because of so and so problems encountered.
Sound familiar?
A business coach can stop the negative thoughts swirling in your head before you decide to let go and slink back to attainable and safe targets when an obstacle arises. Likewise, a business coach can help you create a plan for growth that’s challenging and not downright ludicrous in the first place!
3. Helping the Business find the Right People
Business coaches have many tricks up their sleeves, one of which is the ability to create an ideal employee “profile” for an organization. This profile may include the company’s needs, expectations and values, which could greatly help in finding recruits with the right skills, and most importantly: the right attitude.
As your coach builds your leadership skills, he can also build your recruit magnet skills, which will help you find skilled and committed employees who share your vision.
Lastly, and perhaps the most overlooked skill of all…
Leadership skills, as good as they might be, should be customized according to the type of business, customers and employees around you. What worked for your previous organization might not work in your new capacity. Your coach can help you adjust and re-align your skills to the new environment.
