Attributes of a Good Business Coach

How can you become a great business coach? This is a difficult question to answer. Business coaches, in general, possess a great variety of skills and experiences which all add up to each individual coach’s success. However, they all possess a common set of attributes that enables them to perform well and effect real change in the lives of clients they engage with. It is important that you recognize these qualities if you decide to pursue a career in business coaching, or if you are thinking about engaging a coach.

A business coach works toward developing individual skills and effective teams. Therefore, the most important quality a good coach possesses is communication. He or she will have to communicate with a great variety of people, some are technically skilled, others are responsible for business strategy, and others have already led and managed others. Business coaches not only have to engender respect, they also have to be able to articulate often difficult concepts to a broad range of people. Since they will be developing these very skills in the people they work with, they should demonstrate what they teach every step of the way.

Nontraditional Teaching Methods

Coaches teach in a nontraditional way, foregoing curriculum-based learning for a more intricate and successful approach that involves personally engaging with small groups and individuals. It takes serious leadership skills to be able to direct the psychology of others. As such, the key leadership attributes of goal-setting and effecting change must come a very close second to the ability to communicate effectively. Business coaches should clearly demonstrate that they have the required leadership skills to be able to effect wide-ranging changes in both organizational culture and in individuals.

Must-Have Qualities

There are many attributes that contribute to effective coaching. With communication skills at the top of the list, patience and confidence are other important qualities. A good coach will be able to recognize when a person or group is ready to move on to other levels of training and self-learning, and will be patient and nurturing in all circumstances. Unlike traditional teaching where there is a time limit imposed by a curriculum, mentoring and coaching relies on self-discovery and “guided” learning. Coaches need to have confidence in their own abilities, and should be able to recognize when clients have absorbed the necessary skills and attributes of leadership and are ready to move on successfully.

This list of must-have qualities gives a clear idea of the type of personality who will make a good business coach. (Keep in mind that there are many coaches who do not have these skills.) Therefore it is important to look for these attributes if you are engaging a coach, or to realize that these are the kind of qualities you must possess if you are going to make a good coach. Without these key attributes it is unlikely that you will be effective in delivering top-quality coaching to clients. And remember: Always practice what you preach.