You’re certified, or licensed in your area of expertise. You’ve invested in several home study programs, e-course and training sessions, but you still feel like you’re standing in the same place. Several months have gone by and you are still asking the question, now what?
Sound familiar?
If so, this may be an indication that you need more personalized guidance to set your business on the right path and experience the breakthrough that you deserve.
Hiring a coach can open up new prospective, ideas, and strategies for developing a successful business. However, the right coach is what you need to achieve the results you are looking for.
Here is a 6 step plan to find your ideal coach:
- Know what outcomes you want. You should know what help you need most with your business, and be able to articulate your objectives with ease. To the extent you gain this clarity right from the start, the easier it will be to choose someone who speaks to those results.
- Start with your network. The right coach might be under your nose. Evaluate who is in your network. Focus on the business colleagues and acquaintances whom you admire, want to emulate, and highly knowledgeable in their niche. They may be ideal candidates.
- Experience them. Get a look and feel up close. Take note of what they write or speak about and see if it resonates with you. By participating in free/low cost teleseminars and programs, you will be able to “see” them in action and get a greater feel for their overall style.
- Look for proven results. Look for powerful testimonials and social proof that affirm who they say they are and speak to what they can do. Referrals are also very effective. If someone whom you know, like, and trust endorses another professional, it’s a powerful indication that this person is someone who you should take a closer look.
- Assess fit. Analyze what value the coach is bringing to the coaching experience. Never prejudge, based on fees. Hiring a coach with extremely high coaching fees doesn’t necessarily mean they can move you from where you are to where you want to be. The qualities of an individual is another important piece of the puzzle that you shouldn’t discount when choosing a coach. In the end, fit matters much! If value and fit checks out, you probably have a good match.
- Make the decision. Know the terms and conditions of the coaching arrangement before making a commitment. There should be mutual understanding and agreement right from the start. This prevents false preconceived notions from negatively interfering with the coaching relationship down the stretch.
After you’ve hired the right coach, commit to the relationship. This requires that you maintain open communication, honesty and transparency.
As a client, your responsibility should be to remain fully present and to show up during your scheduled coaching sessions. Be accountable to yourself first and then to your coach to get better results more quickly.
If you’ve been trying to figure out everything on your own, and still standing at ground zero, it’s time to invest in a coach. Use this 6 step plan to help.
Author's Bio:
Zenobia Garrison is the business success coach for women, and making a difference in the lives of professional women who are launching their new solo business while working full time. If you found this information helpful and looking for more tips and strategies for how to elevate your business success, from start up to launch and beyond, obtain a copy of my free mini e-course today.
