Warning signs you need a business coach

Posted on February 13, 2012

A question business owners and executives often ask themselves is, “Can I benefit from business coaching?”

Without question, the answer is yes. There is not a business owner, executive or professional alive who could not benefit substantially from business coaching. Every busy executive and business leader needs greater objectivity and accountability to help change his or her mindset and behaviors in order to earn more, work less and enjoy a more balanced and rich professional life.

For business leaders, there will be a general awareness of certain symptoms, issues and problems requiring help.

The warning signals are surely flashing and sounding the need for business coaching, but entrepreneurs and executives must slow down and face the truth to notice. However, they already know in their gut that something is “out of whack” in their business life that has thrown them off plan and off performance, including one or more of the following warning signs:

* Missing key performance targets and goals

* Making excuses, blaming others and justifying sub-par performance

* Missing critical priorities and key deadlines

* Being overwhelmed

* Lacking clarity of direction, goals and action plans

* Hearing comments that they seem “off their game” or “losing their passion”

* Inability to make changes in mindset and/or daily behaviors to help improve specific performance areas or professional capabilities

More important, business leaders must look at themselves on a personal level when analyzing the need for a business coach. Far too often, executives are so engulfed in their business that they become the “Chief Everything Officer” and lose perspective and balance. Trying to do it all costs them dearly, not only at work, but at home and with relationships. These personal warning signs include:

* Feeling overworked, overwhelmed or burnt out

* Working too many hours and lacking personal balance

* Failing to build close bonds with your spouse, kids, relatives and friends

* Taking work and problems home

* Experiencing large amounts of stress combined with low levels of fun

* Foregoing proper exercise, recreation or hobbies

* Changing mood, energy and engagement level with spouse

Making the Commitment

Recognizing that these professional and personal warning signs will keep business leaders from reaching their goals and earning substantially more money, the only remaining question business leaders need to ask themselves is: “Am I willing to take action now to change my situation for the better?” For those not willing to change, nothing in their business or life will change. While there is no doubt they need coaching, they must want coaching. Those who decide to take action and seek the assistance, guidance, objectivity and accountability of a coach can profit greatly.

As an outside and objective resource looking in, business coaches help business leaders realize that there’s generally a significant gap between where they are now and where they want to be. Most business coaches know that for business leaders to achieve a better future and close the performance gap, they need to face the truth about their current situation; get clarity about their future direction; develop a focused action plan to get there; and face ongoing accountability to keep them on track.                                              (D Murphy @ The Growth Coach)

Back to news page…