How To Hire The Right Business Coach

Speak with successful business owners and one of the most important things they’ll tell you is that they couldn’t have made it without the wise advise of others.

Seeking advice from people who have been there, done that can cut your learning curve down significantly, increasing your chances of succeeding. Go it alone, and you’re doomed to make mistakes that can cripple your business in the long run.

Chances are though, if you’re reading this post, you already know this. And you’re seriously searching for the information you need to start your business on the right foot.

Often, the problem is finding the right business coach to hire. With so many people hanging their business coaching shingle on the internet, it’s hard to know who to hire to help you. And prices vary widely. I’ve seen non-guru coaches charge as much as $300 a month for four coaching sessions. And I’ve worked with coaches who only charged $120 for the same amount of time.

So, how do you know who to choose when you’re looking for a business coach?
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Getting Your Business Started the Right Way

Happy New Year and Welcome to Episode 17!

So many people, especially moms, are intrigued by the idea of working from home. They have great ideas and lots of energy to create their online presence and yet many people fail because they approach working from home or establishing their business in the wrong order.

My guest this week is Stephanie Fish from www.BuckeyeVA.com and she shares her first online experience with owning a candle business. She began with a website but because she had little online experience and no one to teach her how to bring in customers, after one year she shut down her candle business.

For the month of January, we will discuss the right order in which you should approach your online business. Proper planning and preparation will help lead you to success. Michelle will also discuss the importance of the “Ready, Aim, Fire” approach to your business and some mistakes new work at home moms make. She also reveals why hiring a business coach is a great investment.

For Shop Kit Plus clients, listen in to Michelle’s new show at BlogTalkRadio.com This is a monthly show which airs on the first Wednesday of each month at 1pm CST. Send us your questions, call our listener line with questions, or call in live to participate. To listen to the archives, click here.

Do you need a coach?

An increasing number of people are hiring life and business coaches. Coaches help you set goals and achieve them. Like a sports coach, life and business coaches help you develop your strengths and work around your weaknesses.

Many types of people can benefit from a coach, but people that work from home can may reap more benefits than someone in a corporate atmosphere. This is because people that work from home are generally isolated. If you miss having someone to bounce ideas off and have someone to brainstorm with, a coach may be for you.

Coaches will hold you accountable for your actions. For instance, if you are in direct sales and your goal is to sell $400 worth of product each week, your coach will help you set mini goals to accomplish that. When you meet with your coach and she asks you what you have done, you need to be honest.

Coaches can also help you with time management, leadership, and customer service skills. If you tend to procrastinate or have a fear of success or failure, a coach can help you work through it. Some other issues that a coach can help you with include: Creating a balance between work and family, creating an organizational system, and improving your communication skills.

How to find a good coach

Good coaches will also give you honest feedback. They will let you know if you are lacking in certain areas and give you tips on how to improve. It can be hard to hear criticism, but if it makes you a better business person in the long run, it is worth it.

Many coaches will offer a complimentary session; this will help you determine if your personalities match. Different coaches have different styles, so you may want to talk to a few coaches to determine which one you feel most comfortable with. You may also want to ask them about their accreditation. If you are having specific issues with your business, ask if they have experience in those areas.

A coach may choose to work with their clients via email, through one-on-one telephone calls or group calls. If you feel intimidated to speak up in a group session, let your coach know. However, you may enjoy group sessions as you will get to see that other people are going through the same type of problems. The rates a coach may charge can vary quite a bit. You can expect to pay anywhere from $50 per hour and up.

It is important to remember that a coach is not a therapist. A coach cannot fix your problems They can guide you along the way to success, but you will need to do the actual work.

Are you trying to sell physical products online and you’d like to talk to a coach about improving your sales? Contact Michelle.