Why Most Business Coaching is a Waste of Time
You know? It’s true…many business coaching programs and their coaches are an utter waste of time. The problem with many of today’s coaches and coaching programs is that they are focused on mindsets, motivation and emotions, and not on implementing proven best-practice systems, strategies and action steps that will actually grow a business…properly.
You know the stuff? Like making more money, saving more money, recruiting the right people at the right time and marketing to the right customer through the right mediums.
The vast majority of business coaching programs invest most of each coaching session trying to motivate the entrepreneur and discussing how he or she feels. Rather than focusing on developing, marketing and selling products and services that people actually want to buy, many business coaching programs have essentially become part-time psychologists and ‘success coaches’ for many lone-ranger entrepreneurs in search of somebody who will finally understand them and the inherent loneliness often associated with founding and growing a successful company.
Therapists we are not…not really
Although there is value in hiring therapists, psychologists and life coaches, that is not what business coaching is about. And if you need someone to motivate you every week, you really should consider another career…like working for someone.
Instead, it’s about helping real business owners grow real businesses as a result of discovering breakthroughs and implementing proven best-practice systems and processes, many of which are often too complex and difficult to implement without proper coaching and mentorship.
Effective coaching has the ability to transform you and your business, but sadly, most business coaching has seemingly devolved into half-baked entrepreneur therapy sessions. And hell..there was even a point I fell into it. Yes we are there to coach the person, but the business results are the end game. No results? No point. So to balance it out…here you go…
To demonstrate the power of effective business coaching, consider Eric Schmidt, the former executive chairman of Google who hired Bill Campbell to be his business coach. Schmidt talks about his initial thoughts on coaching and his relationship with Campbell in Fortune Magazine: “How could a coach advise me if I’m the best person in the world at this? But that’s not what a coach does …They have to watch you and get you to be your best … Once I realised I could trust him and that he could help me with perspective, I decided this was a great idea.”
Another way of tackling this is how can coach tell someone like a football international how to pass a ball 9 yards, when the player is on ‘x’ million per year and the highest standard they played to was Sunday League with the boys? It’s down to managing the individual so they perform to the best of their ability, consistently whilst knowing their strengths and improving their few weaknesses that they aren’t aware of.
As with hiring a solicitor, a mechanic, a painter and decorator or a builder, it’s wise to do your research in the following two areas:
Check Out The Testimonials
Really dive into the content of what people are saying: Search for video reviews, if possible, and listen to what former clients have to say. Are they talking about feelings, or are they sharing the real results that their business coach helped them generate? It’s possible to love your business coach and also be broke.
Verify Claims
Too often, business coaching material is taught by coaches who have never grown a business (other than their program), so everything they teach is theoretical at best, and they may have no idea if it will actually work for you and your business. Does the program seem too good to be true? If it’s promising overnight success or huge profits that seem unrealistic and unsustainable, it probably is.
A business coach can change your life and your business, but it‘s important to take the time to vet your coach. Make sure you do your due diligence to find the program that is right for you.
And I’m happy to talk to anyone about what I know, what I’ve done and where I’ve done it. Just get in touch….
