Why a Business Coach?

When I opened my email today I was happy to see the Thriving Bussiness newsletter in my in box. In the newsletter was a great article by Yvonne Weld titled Why a Business Coach? which she has allowed me permission to repost here.

Why a Business Coach?
by Yvonne Weld

One of the best things I ever did for my business was to hire a coach. I have worked with several coaches each with their own style of coaching. Finding a coach that is a good fit for your business can be as difficult as picking a life mate. Here are a few tips to help you make the right choice:

1. Complimentary Coaching Call

Most coaches offer a complimentary coaching call to determine if you will be a right fit for each other. You should look for someone that you feel comfortable talking to. If you are having problems openly communicating with the coach on the complimentary call then how will you talk to them about your goals, successes and failures?

2. Be Open

Each coach comes with their own unique style. Don’t be afraid to tell your coach what you do and do not like about the relationship. If something isn’t working tell them. In order to get the most benefit from your coaching experience you have to feel that you are getting something from each and every conversation.

3. Make a Commitment

The best coaching advice will come once a coach truly knows you and your business. The more that your coach gets to know you and how you react to different situations the more likely you are to get the responses you are looking for from your coaching experience. The best relationships are ones that you are willing to commit to for two or three months at a minimum.

4. Work with Your Coach

Don’t expect your coach to have all the answers. They are there to work with you to find the answers that are right for you and your business. They are solely there to guide you to find the answers that best fit you and the situation because each situation is unique whether it seems that way or not.

The biggest advantage for me to having a coach is accountability – when I tell my coach I will work on something I am motivated to work on that because I know at the next coaching call we will be discussing it. If I didn’t have a coach as a cheerleader and urging me to take on new challenges, I know for certain that I would never have the “guts” to step outside of my comfort zone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yvonne Weld is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business and is the owner of ABLE Virtual Assistant Services. Have you truly created a thriving business? Could your business survive any obstacle thrown at it? For your FREE Preview Manual and for more information about The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business and how you can ensure you have truly created a thriving business, visit the Web site at http://www.thrivingbusinessmanual.com.

Nonviolent Communication

Last night I attended the introductory workshop to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) at the Bay Area NVC. It was a 2 hour workshop on compassionate communication. NVC is a powerful form of communication that meets both people's needs in a conversation. We did a lot of role playing. We learned about the importance of paying attention to others needs, listening beyond the words to find out what their real needs are. The trainer described learning NVC was like learning a new language so it takes lots of practice.

We were a small group of people from all different walks of life. There was one woman who worked with the ex-convict, ex-drug addict population, another having issues with her sister, another trying to deal with her co-workers, etc... What I noticed was everyone had the same needs. It doesn't matter if you are a drug addict, a top executive, a teenager or a stay at home mom - we all want to be seen, heard, understood and respected.

I got the book, some CDs of the program and I plan to attend more workshops to incorporate this in to my coaching. Imagine being able to really understand your clients needs, going beyond the words and being able to give them what they need.