Do you ever get the funny feeling that you are talking only to yourself?When you try to think about strategy for your company, do you stare at a blank wall?Are the voices in your head louder than the radio? If this is true for you, then you might have small business owner syndrome.
This is most easily remedied by talking to someone else.
Your best bet?A business coach.
What, exactly, does a business coach do? And, how much will it cost in time and money? A good business coach is someone who has been trained to be a coach at an accredited coaching school.
Coaches learn how to listen, ask powerful questions, give advice so people will listen and several other key skills.
In addition, they may specialize in a particular type of coaching.
They may be a life coach, business coach or executive coach.
When you work with a business coach, you will generally call the coach at an appointed time two or three times a month.
Most coaches also work with you over email during the month.
Some coaches will meet with you one-on-one rather than over the phone.
But it's not the method of delivering the coaching that's really important.
What's important is what a coach can do for you and your business.
A good coach will help you strategize in your business.
You'll be able to get out of your own head! He or she will help you craft a vision and strategies to get to that vision.
In other words, a coach helps you close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
Strategies are still not where the work gets done.
For each strategy you choose, a coach helps you define tasks.
These tasks are specific and have a deadline.
You know what you need to do to get to where you want to go.
A coach will hold you accountable to complete the tasks when you say you are going to complete them.
One of the most important things that a coach does, however, is help you when you don't complete your tasks.
You see, when you don't complete your tasks, there's usually a reason.
Sometimes the reason is right there in front of you.
For example, you didn't send out your bills because you went to exercise instead.
If health is one of your goals, the coach can help you understand that it was a good trade-off.
He or she can also help you find a way to get both goals accomplished.
However, if you have gone to exercise as an excuse not to ask for money, a good coach will help you explore that even deeper.
You'll work together to uncover the "limiting belief" that is keeping you from being as successful as you want to be.
A coach will help you get past that limiting belief and surge ahead in your business.
Because, make no mistake about it, whatever causes problems in your personal life will cause problems in your business life.
A coach can help you in all areas of your business, including: Working with employees and contractors.
A coach can help you figure out how to hire, fire and manage employees.
He or she can help you build a team of high performance people, ready to take your business to the next level.
Marketing and sales: Developing a marketing plan and a marketing plan are crucial to the success of your business.
A business coach can work with you to strategize how you want to market and sell your products and services.
He or she can also help you get past any internal beliefs about selling that may be holding you and your business back.
Planning and executing growth: Do you want to have more physical space? More employees? More locations? A business coach can help you figure out how to meet these goals.
Financials: Do you look at your business numbers? Do you understand them? A business coach can help you plan and reach your financial goals.
He or she can also help you get rid of any limiting beliefs about money.
These are just a few examples.
Wherever you are in your business process, you can benefit from having a business coach by your side - if only to talk to someone besides your cat!