Finding a Good Business Coach

When the topic of business coaching comes up, many managers react with a mixture of incomprehension and skepticism. Why? Since the immediate benefits to the bottom line of a company are often difficult to see, the cost and benefits to external features such as business coaching or mentoring have been slow to be adopted by traditional business owners.

Now, however, using business coaches is considered to be a key part of adding value to a company, and the evidence of the success of such initiatives by corporations has led to the growth of the business coaching sector which led to an explosion in the number of people offering such services.

As always, coaching choices often lie between the very good and the very bad. For many managers, having the time to sift through all of the information in able to choose the right sort of coach takes far too long. But there are a number of things that can cut that time: Developing a plan for finding the right coach is as important as getting a coach in the first place.

What Criteria Are You Looking for in a Coach?

The first thing you need to do is to sit down and develop a set of criteria for the role of a business coach in your company. Since businesses differ in many ways, the type of coaching you require will be highly individual to your business. You may need someone who has a lot of experience in coaching sales teams, or you might need a coach to help your directors develop good strategic thinking.

A list of coaches can be found in most business magazines, and industry-specific magazines will contain only those who have experience in coaching similar businesses. Check online for a coaching site with testimonials and case studies to give you an idea of which area a particular coach is proficient in teaching. Spending a little time researching should narrow your search down considerably.

Accreditation and Qualifications

Once you have narrowed the number of prospective coaches to three or four, it’s a good idea to check out their credentials. There are an enormous number of professional qualifications touted by coaches from MBAs to CiPD to accredited coaching certifications. Take a close look at the qualifications of the coaches as well as the type and level of experience they have.

While there are a number of great coaches who do not have professional qualifications and trade only on a long history of success, it is more and more usual for coaches to possess good qualifications.

Lastly, the best coaches will have seminars and lectures so that you can go and see them in action. If you are seriously considering hiring a business coach, then check out what is happening in your local area and, if there are any upcoming events, go and check them out. A few hours to see the coaches you are considering in action will give you a clearer idea of what they do and how they can help improve your business. The next step is a lengthy interview. And remember that it is not just a sales pitch from the coach, you should have a list of pertinent questions to ask to ensure you have the right person for the job.