This question is frequently asked. It’s been more difficult than ever to run a business, and coaching is becoming more popular. There are many coaching options available to business owners.
I run my own coaching program so I naturally mentioned it. I then said, “Look, it doesn’t matter if it’s us, or someone else, just hire somebody.” You can scale your business by growing your leadership capacity. Coaching is the best way.
It was not difficult to anticipate his next question. And probably yours too: “Where do i start?”
I then shared the three questions that you should ask before hiring a coach.
1. DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT BUILDING EXPERIENCE
Here’s the dirty secret to the business coaching business: Most coaches have never managed a business. They often have previous experience in business, and perhaps even leadership. There is a huge difference between working in business and running your business.
You need someone who can take risks, manage to make ends meet, overcome slumping revenues, and figure out how to grow.
I first met a potential coach for business several years back. He was a New York Times best-selling author, and he had an MBA from one top business schools. He spent the whole day with me and learned about my business. Then, he told me emphatically, that I must shut down all other revenue streams and focus only upon that.
While it didn’t sound right at the moment, I began to wonder if he was wrong. It was something that I thought about for several days. It sent me into a tailspin. Chalene Johnson was interviewing me on her podcast right as I was close to deciding to revamp my entire company. I explained my problem. She was not in agreement with the business coach. This is what I found most interesting. She replied, “Why do you listen to him?” You know that he has never owned or started a business?
She was right. He didn’t know anything. It was all just theory. I dodged a bullet.
You want a coach that has managed more than one company. It’s helpful for them to have managed different businesses so you know what works in various contexts.
2. DO THEY GET THE RIGHT CLIENT RESULTS?
You want someone who has seen the results you are looking for and is still getting them. You need them to live up to the promise of transformation. But, you need more. You must also know that clients get similar results to yours.
Additionally, you need a coach who can distill their knowledge and wisdom into easy-to-understand frameworks as well as practical implementation tools. You need knowledge and applications. They should make it easy and quicker to get the results that you desire.
This is something you should also be aware of when reading testimonials from clients. Many coaches will write testimonials for their clients and then obtain approval to use them. They aren’t fake testimonials but they are very close. It is best to view video testimonials and handwritten notes by real clients in their own words.
You can also ask for specific quantitative data to show what clients have accomplished as a result the coaching program. They could point to specific business results, for example. What other results can they point out?
3. DO THEY USE THE CORRECT COACHING FOUNDATIONS?
Some coaches offer only one-on-1 sessions. Some offer group masterminds. Which format is best for you? Actually, neither. The research shows that adults learn best when they have multiple options. One study revealed that coaching combined with training can increase productivity by an average of 86%, compared to 22% with training alone.
One-on-1 coaching can lead you to become dependent on your coach. This can also lead to dependence on the coach. While masterminds can be beneficial, they can also lead to “the blind leading other blind.”
A program that includes expert coaching (see #1 above) as well as structured discussions with a group of qualified peers representing different industries is what you want. This provides you with the accountability and leadership that you need in order to make real progress.
THE FINAL CRITERION
Final note: I would not hire a coach if they didn’t have one. I want to ensure they are purchasing what they’re selling. If they truly believe in coaching, they will be able to have one of their own. If they don’t believe in coaching, it should be a red alert. They either don’t believe coaching is needed for everyone or are too arrogant not to need it.
Jonathan Rosenberg, who was being considered to head the product team at Google had his final interview with Bill Campbell. Campbell is the legendary coach who mentored Steve Jobs, Eric Schmidt and many other Silicon Valley luminaries. Campbell would not hire someone too arrogant to see their potential for growth. It is not your fault.
Hiring a coach for your business can be one the best decisions you make. You can go further, quicker if you hire the right coach. The wrong person can slow down your progress, or worse, cost you your resources. These three questions will ensure that you find the right coach for you and achieve the results you desire.