Nowadays, there is a constant growth in the number of companies that use the services of a business advisor or coach. Years ago, very few people at a professional level were familiar with this concept, but they were familiar with the name of an advisor or business consultant. These terms are very often put in the same category as the coach, although the job of the business coach is to know the guidelines that will make the person function and develop, even if they may lack the specific technical or professional knowledge of the company.
When we think of a business coach we always relate him to the world of sport, but this term can encompass many other sectors in which the development of the professional needs, both at a career and business level. Professional athletes are very familiar with the benefits of coaching as an essential tool to achieve the desired objectives, based on a personal orientation and adapted to the needs of each one.
There are personal coaches, executive coaches, event organization advisors, image consultants, business consultants, and the aforementioned sports coaches. In almost any field there will be a person specialized in this, whose common factor is that their objective is to help their clients reach their highest potential, regardless of the area of activity. In any case, and given that there are many experts, the important thing is to find the professional that suits our specific needs.
The most successful people have had a business coach or mentor at any time in their life or profession, someone who guides them in the direction of their goals and, above all, helps them avoid mistakes that could have led to failure. A coach is not someone miraculous who appears out of nowhere and fixes everything, she is a person whose only concern is the personal and professional improvement of her client.
Benefits of having a business coach
Having a business coach has several benefits. The first and perhaps most important is that the coach stimulates the performance of his clients to the maximum through a continuous motivation based on objectives, with an action plan in which the results are truly those that set the pace and development of growth.
The business coach, through his training and experience, has acquired methods and skills that otherwise would be impossible to have; All of this forms an efficient base that is inserted into the professional life of the company for which it works so that it evolves constantly and positively.
One of the qualities of the business coach is his realism, offering a clear, transparent evaluation adjusted to the reality of the situation in which his client is and the most optimal way to improve it.
The business coach is an extension of the client, helping him to identify his personal strengths and weaknesses and, above all, to concentrate on what he does best, simplifying problems or inconveniences and creating opportunities where they did not exist before.
Finally, the coach helps, motivates, and develops his true ‘self’ together with the client, making a roadmap to make this change in an optimal way.
How to choose the business coach we really need
With the current avalanche of trainers available today, certain parameters must be taken into account when looking for one for our company.
In the first place, there must be compatibility when talking and spending time with the business coach, since the client and the coach have to be one. For this, it is essential to feel comfortable and be able to speak openly, without taboos or lies. It depends on whether the growth development is effective or not.
On the other hand, the coach has to be a credible professional. As in all sectors, there are gurus or trainers who say and offer a lot and rather do little. The coach has to be competent in his area of focus and be able to raise his knowledge and skills to a higher level.
For this, the business coach must have the ability to listen, therefore, it is very important to observe if the first conversation, by phone or in person, is coherent, close, and, above all, enriches him in some way, or if it is simply cold and interesting. The coach’s job is to help you find your inner wisdom while giving guidance and advice, but they can only do this if they are listening effectively. For this reason, it is common for most trainers to offer a free introductory session to alleviate the fear of taking the next step and working with them.
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