I’m a Builder, Why Do I Need A Business Coach?
So….. I’m a Builder, Why Do I Need A Business Coach? Business and Executive coaching in the construction industry over the last 20 years has gone from a dirty secret with the stigma of failure to a ‘must have’ service. To be a leading director in construction as well as other sectors, a business or executive coach is THE must have!
Directors understand now that being given the chance to work with a business or executive coach is a positive move, but what really are the benefits of coaching? I’m a Builder, Why Do I Need A Business Coach?
Here are 6 main benefits to an executive director or officer of any organisation. By entering your coaching journey with an open mind and a willingness to grow, you will achieve all of these benefits.
1. You will see others more clearly.
Leaders often run into problems because of their assessments and presumptions of those around them. They lose good employees because they don’t recognise and support their capabilities. They keep poor performers too long because they think they’re better than they are! A good, discerning coach will have more neutral and accurate perceptions of those around you than you will share those perceptions with you.
2. You’ll leverage your strengths.
Working with an effective coach can also help you see and leverage strengths that you already have but that you may be underestimating. The CEO who has a gift for envisioning products and services that would appeal to customers, but didn’t think it was a big deal. Moving the thoughts of this CEO to a position to see uniqueness and value. Use this more effectively for the benefit of their teams.
3. You will see yourself more clearly.
This very important. It is well documented that most CEO’s, executive directors and leaders themselves very clearly. When accurate self-awareness in leaders is highly correlated with an organisation’s effectiveness and profitability. Employees too, prefer to follow leaders who see themselves clearly; they are also willing to share their perceptions. When you engage with a good coach, they should collate information about how others see you at the beginning of the engagement, then share it with you.
The best coaches will also pattern the feedback into key themes, to further clarify others’ perceptions of your key strengths and growth areas. Throughout your coaching journey, your coach will also share his or her perceptions of you, based on observation of you and your interactions with others. Most important, if your coach is effective, they will help you build skills to see yourself more clearly: to question your assumptions about yourself, get curious about where you’re strong and where you need to grow, whilst teaching you to see yourself with ‘fair witness’ eyes.
4. Build more productive relationships.
Leaders can dramatically limit their effectiveness by only being willing or able to build strong relationships with certain demographics, often individuals from the same background, race, gender, beliefs, or working style. A good coach helps you recognise this and gives you an alternative option, both by helping you see and question the limiting assumptions you make about people who aren’t like you. By offering you tools to support you in understanding and creating strong and vital working relationships with a wider variety of people
5. Learn new ways to respond.
Marshall Goldsmith, the world leader in executive coaching, published in 2007 What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. His theory is oh so true. Everyone has a set of capabilities and responses that may serve well as mid-level managers, but that’s where it stops. Leadership skills need to be developed from this point, a point which very few have already got experience in.
6. Achieve what you want.
This is the bottom line for an effective coaching relationship. A good coach will help you get clear on your goals and dreams; what you’re capable of doing in order to achieve them. They can also be a powerfully useful support system on your journey. Someone who knows you very well and wants the best for you, your uncaring friend! Unlike your family or your employees, your coach isn’t dependent on you for his or her success. They can be blunt and honest with you about how you’re doing. Reminding you of what you’ve said you want to achieve and letting you know what you’re doing that’s supporting your intentions, or getting in your way. Finally, and most importantly, your coach will teach you new ways of thinking and operating, new skills that will allow you to better reach your goals and create the career you want.
There are two caveats to all of the above. Your coach has to be good, and you have to be coachable.
Do you feel you’re ready to take the next step into coaching or do you still have the attitude of I’m a Builder, Why Do I Need A Business Coach?
Are you coachable?
I’m a Builder, Why Do I Need A Business Coach? There is only one way to find out…… contact me today by message on LinkedIn; click here and leave me a message, call me on 07716 292378 or mail me at ianfinney@actioncoach.com
