“A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so that you can be who you’ve always known you could be” – Tom Landry
I often get asked “How am I supposed to choose the right business coach for me?“.
After all, there are a lot of them out there, so how on earth are you supposed to know which will be the right one for you?
And the truth is, a lot of it is to do with personality.
You’re going to work very closely with your coach, which means you need to be completely comfortable with who they are and the approach they have.
But Nell, I hear you ask, what does that mean?
Well, it’s all about finding out what a coach is like, and if you think they’ll be the right fit for your business, your personality, and what you want to achieve.
For example, I might not be the right coach for you if…
1. You want someone to indulge you:
At the end of the day, you don’t hire a business coach because you want someone to nicely nicely explain why “maybe you might want to consider doing this differently….” .
Surely you want them to challenge why or what you’re doing, ask the questions you’re not asking yourself and make you consider some of the things you hadn’t even thought about.
I’m straight talking and direct. I will always say what’s on my mind and ask the questions that need to be asked.
It’s my job to support you, but also to challenge you to do better.
2. You don’t want to get called out:
I am not one to let things slide….
If I think you’re giving me BS, I’m going to call you out on it. I won’t let you get away with laziness or half-hearted work either.
It’s called the iron fist, velvet glove approach.
I’m never harsh or mean and I will tell you things you might not want (but very much need) to hear.
So if you’re making an elephant out of a mouse, I’ll be the first to tell you that, and help you put things in perspective.
3. You need serenity:
Let’s be honest, I’m very high energy, which I bring to my clients and every session.
No dolphin music in my office!
I will always be upbeat and positive in everything I do and I will happily grab the pom poms and be your cheerleader through the good and the bad.
So if you need someone who is an ocean of calm to guide you or qu, I’m probably not the one!
4. You want to focus on nothing but your business:
You run your business for a reason. Usually, that’s because you want to be in charge or you want to build something that allows you to achieve your personal goals. Whether that’s earning lots of money or being able to work around the kids schedules or create a different future.
The business is the driver for achieving all this, so bringing the personal in, is very important.
We will do a lot of work around mindset as well. If your mind’s not in the right place, it inevitably impacts the business.
So when you work with me, we look at every element of your life and business and ultimately how we can improve both.
5. You Hate Fun:
Honestly, running a business should be fun and your coaching sessions should be fun. Yes, they will be tough at times and exhausting however I want you feeling better leaving a session with me than you did coming in.
We will laugh, we will joke and we will try to find the fun in every session.
Both my group and 1-1 sessions are often full of laughter, usually at some inappropriate joke, or one of my ‘Nellyisms’. (and yes, there’s one in this blog as well…. Go find it!)
6. You Have Your Barriers Up:
Working with a business coach can sometimes be a very intimate and intense experience.
I challenge your thinking, your reasons or push your comfort zone….
If things are going on in your life that are impacting your business, it’s not uncommon to bring them into a coaching session, even if all you want to do is unload in a safe place.
I quite often have clients who end up in tears during a session (always cathartic ones!).
They always leave with a smile, and ready to take on the next steps.
And that’s just a few reasons!
At the end of the day, you’re only going to know if a coach is right for you by talking to a few and figuring out which one you click with or who’s the right fit for you.
That’s why I’m happy to offer 1 free coaching session, or a coffee chat, before you commit to anything with me – so that you can decide if we’re the right fit for each other.
And if I’m not, don’t worry – I won’t be offended!
Book in for your coffee chat via this link and let’s get to know each other!
