Strategic Discipline Blog

Coaching has gained credibility and acceptability in the 23 years since I started my coaching career. There are several different coaching avenues to explore to grow yourself and your business. Our guest writer today is Candace Sigmon. I’m on vacation this week, please enjoy Candace’s insights on how coaching can help you.

If you're looking to take your career to the next level, a business coach may be able to help. Being able to sit down with an external, objective third party to discuss your goals and career trajectory can help give you clarity and provide guidance for your path. That said, it's important to define your motivations for working with a coach—and to understand how to work with a coach in a way that best serves you. This guide offers you what you need to know about finding and working with a coach.

Recognize the signs that you could use a coach!

First, you need to determine if a coach can help you. There are some common signs you could benefit from a helping hand, such as feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or confused about your career. Signs of potential burnout, like ambivalence about your career and irritability in the workplace, can likewise be reasons to seek support. In other cases, you may want a coach because you feel "stuck," lack creativity, or purpose, and want someone to bounce ideas off.

Understand what a coach can do for you.

Coaches can serve many purposes, including helping you discover your core values, supporting you in defining your vision, and creating a strategic plan for achieving your goals. A coach can also help with practicalities like creating a resume. It never hurts to keep your resume up-to-date, and a coach can ensure the document hits all the highlights and meets your industry's current standards. An online resume template makes putting your resume together fast and easy, saving you time and effort.

 Know how to find the right coach for your needs.

If you've decided you could benefit from a coach, you're probably wondering how to find one. Start by looking for individuals who have worked with people in your industry. You can also ask people you know for referrals. It's also helpful to request references. A reputable coaching service like Positioning Systems will provide client testimonials regarding their success stories, so you can hire them with confidence. Before signing up, ask for a free consultation and get a feel for the coach. You want to be comfortable with them.

Make the most of your relationship with your business coach.

Once you've found the right coach, you want to optimally leverage their expertise. Start by honestly assessing your weaknesses. Ask yourself where you're struggling, where you'd like to improve, and what you need help with. Then, talk to your coach about what kind of skills and knowledge you need to address those blind spots. It's important to be honest and have realistic expectations when working with your coach. Finally, be open to an ongoing relationship. Your coach can help you develop over time; it won't be an overnight process.

Look for other forms of business support beyond coaching.

If coaching isn't in your budget, there are other tools that are more affordable and can still support your business's success. A virtual personal assistant can take care of basic administrative tasks, for example, while online business formation services can simplify company foundation if you start your own business. An LLC offers perks like protecting your liability, providing tax perks, and minimizing paperwork. Before you choose a service, read reviews to find the best LLC services.

Working with a business coach can be daunting if you've never done it before. However, coaching can help you improve your career prospects—or your own business success—in many ways. Recognize the signs that you need assistance and trust the tips above to help you find the perfect coach.

For more content on finding business success with the help of a coach, visit the blog.

To create an environment where everyone is inspired to give their best, contact Positioning Systems today to schedule a free exploratory meeting.

Growth demands Strategic Discipline.

Harvard researcher Shawn Anchor studies emotions. He notes, “Our brains are wirelessly connected, which means we co-process the world. We do not individually process the world.” Motivation is a myth. Inspiration gets things done. This is the transfer of emotions. We’ll explore this in our next blog.

Building an enduring great organization requires disciplined people, disciplined thought, disciplined action, superior results, producing a distinctive impact on the world.

Discipline sustains momentum, over a long period of time, laying the foundations for lasting endurance.

A winning habit starts with 3 Strategic Disciplines: Priority, Metrics, and Meeting Rhythms.   Forecasting, accountability, individual, and team performance improve dramatically.

Meeting Rhythms achieve a disciplined focus on performance metrics to drive growth.

Let Positioning Systems help your business achieve these outcomes on the Four most Important Decisions your business faces:

Positioning Systems helps mid-sized ($5M - $500M+) businesses Scale-UP. We align your business to focus on Your One Thing! Contact dwick@positioningsystems.com to Scale Up your business! Take our Four Decisions Needs Assessment to discover how your business measures against other Scaled Up companies. We’ll contact you.

NEXT BLOG – Inspired Leadership - Contagious Emotions