​Everyone needs a coach

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Last week I wrote about what a (business or life) coach is. This post is dedicated to why everyone needs a coach and what they can do for you. Professional athletes, who get paid millions of dollars to play a sport professionally, all have coaches. The coach serves as the person from the side-lines, observing the individual and team’s actions, and providing correction action, suggestion, and direction. In the same way, a professional (business or life) coach is there to help see what you cannot, for a number of reasons, provide suggestions, direction, and potential corrective action. The question is, do I really need a coach?
 
This can be challenging for several reasons:

1. They can be expensive.
2. I don’t know why I need one.
3. What can they really do for me?
4. I thought only athletes need coaches?

 
A coach is there to see what you cannot. You may be too close to the situation to have an unbiased position, they are able to see things from a different perspective and provide insight otherwise left unseen, or may simply be better at something than you are and can help solve an issue by asking the right questions, providing new insight, or giving you a little nudge in the right direction.
 
Reasons why you may consider hiring a coach:

1. I am looking to grow in my profession.
2. I would like to become a better leader, marketer, writer, etc.
3. I have a short-term goal to achieve
4. I have no clue what to do (who says you need to know what to do?!)

 
Number 3 (above) could be done in a number of ways – hiring a consultant to help resolve your issue, bringing on a new team member to fill a void, training for yourself or your team, etc. There are a several ways to accomplish your goal, a coach is another method (depending on what it is).
 
What to look for in a coach. Look for someone who:

1. Is an expert in the area you are looking to improve.
2. Has a proven track record.
3. Lives a morally and ethically sound life (a quick internet search shows a lot)
4. Has some of the characteristics and attributes you agree with.
5. Is what you can afford.

 
Number 5 is a little tricky. There are some coaches out there that charge flat rates, per hour, or per project. If it is a project based fee, then this is really a consultant as they should be providing something tangible like a documented improved process, marketing plan, etc. Some are better than others. You may be charged $100-$1000 per hour (or more), or have a nominal (or significant) retainer. The reason it is tricky, is without the coach, could you have succeeded without them? Had you not paid the $2500 per month retainer for 6 months, would you have been able to improve your marketing return on investment by $500,000, or hired the right team and increased revenue by 30%? The question is, would you rather spend $5000 and earn $30,000 or spend $20,000 and earn $100,000?
 
How to be a good coachee:

1. Be open to suggestions.
2. Take action based on the suggestions.
3. Understand that you don’t know everything (and you don't have to).
4. Communicate openly with your coach.
5. Leverage the accessibility of your coach.
6. Don’t underestimate your coach’s ability.
7. Hold your coach accountable to what they say they will do for you.

 
Finding the right coach for your situation may be challenging but beneficial for you, your team, and your organization, no matter how large or small. I encourage you to consider to options and get yourself a coach.
 
What do you think about this? Do you have a coach? Are you a coach? Please share your experiences by posting your comments here.
 
Until next time…
Jared