Do you make a new year’s resolution to lose weight or go to the gym? Do you actually reach those goals?
This is a prime example of knowing what to do, but not staying motivated to actually do it. Intellectually, we all know eating healthy foods and exercising is the key to losing weight, yet many people never seem to stick with it.
The same is true with growing your business. We all know we need a business plan and need to market our businesses consistently, yet life gets in the way and our plans don’t materialize, or we take a break from marketing, because we’re too busy handling customers’ needs.
Enter the business coach.
In this particular instance, a business coach will keep you focused on your goal and the individual tasks at hand. Instead of getting distracted, you will have a plan in place for your next steps. Plus, your coach will want an accountability report, so if you get distracted, you’ll have to admit that and own up to wasting that time. For some people, writing down the next steps in checklist form helps keep them focused. Whether that’s a paper note, or a list on your phone, knowing the next steps helps drive you forward in your productivity.
Of course, life can get in the way of business and you may have to take some time off or shorten your business hours when emergencies happen. A business coach can help you reconfigure your business plans as needed so you’re not losing progress. Whether that means changing courses altogether or simply hiring an independent contractor to take over some of the tasks, your coach will be your sounding board if your mind is preoccupied with a life problem.
Your business progress can also be halted by technology. For instance, you may know you need an online shopping cart, but indecision about which software to buy and uncertainty about how to install it can halt your next steps. A business coach will have recommendations about software or, at the very least, the name of a technical person who can assist you with the purchase and installation.
It is important to keep in mind that business coaches are available to give advice, not to do the work for you.
Listen to your coach’s unique perspective on your business and her advice then take action and follow through with your next steps. Likewise, you shouldn’t be so timid about making decisions that you are afraid to take action without asking your coach. Developing a coach/client relationship which allows you to feel confident in your own decisions is important to the growth of the business.
If you need recommendations for a business coach, feel free to reach out to me.
If you found this post helpful, please share:
