Most folks I meet have some vague understanding of the value an experienced coach can provide to their growth and business’s bottom line, but few really understand the true power of coaching. Even fewer understand the process; let me digress a moment.
Many people who hang out their shingles and call themselves coaches are not actually trained to be coaches. While it’s not exactly practicing medicine without going to medical school, it’s more like having a nurse perform the surgery. You might have a good outcome, but I want my chest cracked open by someone who understands my problem, has experience solving my problem, and a tried and true means to have a great outcome.
I think you get the picture. Find someone trained to be a coach. There is a coaching process that is well-validated and taught in post graduate colleges and education programs. Let me explain what I do to achieve bottom line results for you.
First: Clarity…..Through detailed assessments and interviews, I will understand your strengths, your challenges, your business and your business plan. This first step is critical to hitting the target. Sometimes I see things you don’t see, so be prepared to work on just more than your own agenda. That’s the power of working with a coach who has been an executive.
Second: Focus….. We jointly develop new goals and action plans to bring real change to how you impact your business. I will be accountable to you and your stakeholders for advancing your business objectives, but I also hold you accountable for following through on your commitments. This accountability is again one of the real powers of coaching.
Finally: Implementation….. We jointly develop criteria to measure your success. Be it improved employee engagement, reducing the cost of turnover or measuring an increase in sales, your ROI should be measured in more ways than your improved personal job satisfaction. If a coach isn’t willing to commit to improving your business results, find one that is.