“Coaching helps you take stock of where you are now in all aspects of your life, and how that compares to where you would like to be.” -Elaine MacDonald

Even though good coaching can help leaders and organizations with strategic thinking and performance/financial productivity, not all business leaders and organizations have a coach.  According to an International Coaching Federation (IFC) and Human Capital Institute (HCI) study, 60% of respondents from organizations with strong coaching cultures report their revenue to be above average, compared to their peer groups.

Do you have a coach?

If not, you could be limiting your career success and much more.  Good coaches will do three things for you:

-    Push you to have conversation you don’t want to have,

-    Push you to do some things you don’t want to do, and

-    Push you to become something that you didn’t think you could become.

If you’re among those who haven’t yet connected with a coach, perhaps you’ve been waiting until to earn a higher salary.  Or maybe you think that only rich people and those who are established executives need a coach.

Whatever the case, if you would like to take your career to the next level, chances are you could benefit from a trusted certified coach.  Here are five ways to know if you’re ready to have a coach.

1.    You’ve hit a wall with your career.  Things happen in life.  Whatever the situation may be, there are times in your life when you may hit a wall.  These situations can distract you from your purpose and passion.  A good coach can help you successfully transition into and through various stages of your career, including promotions, launching your own business, scaling your established business, or capitalizing on a big idea.

2.    You aren’t sure about how to reach your career goals.  Do you know how to make accurate forecasts or apply “what if” scenarios about your goals, financial outcomes, and any other business decisions?  If not, it will be more difficult for you to reach future goals own your own, goals such as developing your personal/professional skills, increasing business revenue, and growing your business.  A good coach is trained to help you strategize and plan for such scenarios and more so you meet all of your goals.

3.    You want help creating map for success.  A business/organization leader must have the ability to analyze a lot of moving parts, from the development of the culture of the company to employee performance to financial stability to customer/employee satisfaction to communication with investors/sponsors.  It all comes down to navigation.

If you’re a business leader, many times leaders know from experience that it is quicker to do things yourself.   But be honest, this can take more time for you to achieve your goals and can cause significant limitations to the growth of you and your organization.  Unless you want to stay stagnant individually and corporately, do yourself a favor and consider a coach or even a team of coaches who can help you in the areas in which you need assistance.

4.    You need expert advice about specific decisions and situations.  Plenty of business leaders ask family members and friends for recommendations, assistance, and guidance on how to manage their professional life from operating a business to making smallest business decision.  There are some that may read a book.  I’m sure you will receive great ideas from these people and sources.

But just as you wouldn’t go to your car mechanic rather than your medical doctor if you needed health check up, so too would it be a mistake to trust laypersons (even well-intentioned loved ones) when it comes to more complex business decisions.  A credible coach can be a crucial source of guidance and education when making costly decisions that can affect the health of your career and/or business. 

5.    You are too busy working “in” your business versus working “on” your business.  Do your current family, work, and community obligations have you too busy or too stressed out to deal with your most important concerns?  Are you so worried about your day-to-day routine or business operations that you cannot clearly focus on your long-term goals or the future of your organizations?

If you are overwhelmed by your current responsibilities and obligations, you simply may not have the time or energy to devote strategic planning.  If that sounds like your reality, it’s probably a wise move to turn to a certified coach for help.  A quality certified coach can offer the time, attention, and care you may not be able to give your professional and business development on your own.

Up until now, you may not have thought you were “ready” for professional coaching help.  But if any of these five scenarios outlined above apply to you, then you’re definitely a person who is ideally suited to work with a professional certified coach.

In what ways could a coach be helpful to you?  Please leave a comment below, send me a tweet on Twitter, or leave a comment on Facebook.

Bryant

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