Coaching
Business coaching differs from consulting in that coaching focuses on the executive more than on the business.
Like sports coaches, we work with our clients-owners and managers- to help them maximize their their potential and achieve goals.
Entrepreneurs are often limited by their ability to manage people or to communicate effectively. Others need help in managing time of prioritizing tasks. Some need to develop leadership skills or their financial acumen.
In the coaching process, we first assess the client's strengths and weaknesses to uncover areas of improvement or opportunity. We help to articulate specific targets and goals.
We then create a development plan tailored to the needs of the player. We continually review and monitor progress and growth. We set new priorities and growth targets and implement new plans.
Most important, as coaches, we hold the owner's feet to the fire. It's fairly well known that when Michael Jordan first came to the Bulls he was a self-centered shooter. He knew his talents wee in getting the ball through the hoop. He though that if he just got to the ball more often than anyone else, he'd be a winner.
As coach of the Bulls, Phil Jackson identified both Jordan's strengths and and his weaknesses in playing as part of the a team. Phil Jackson's coaching unleashed Jordan's true potential and led the team to super-stardom.
Most entrepreneurs go into their businesses because of a passion, a hobby or because of their commitment to a good idea. For many, the raw emotion of building something new gets them started and carries them across the first few hurdles.
But at some point, many are in over their heads. The enthusiasm that bought them into their business gives way to the recognition that, in many areas in business management, they lack the skills to be truly successful.
They may still be trying to shoot every basket because they haven't developed a good team around them.
Unlike the corporate world where there's always some manager overseeing each associate's progress, small business owners have no one to hold them accountable. A business coach helps keep their players focused on the end game and in gaining the necessary skills to win it.
Case Study:
One client, a small kayak store owner, was having difficulty getting everything completed that he needed to accomplish. He often felt paralyzed and unable to to prioritize his "to-do" list. He knew that he couldn't grow his business while only working "in" it. He needed to find some time to work "on" his business.
First we carved out two hours each day for him to work on his management priorities. We taught his staff how to take telephone calls and handle all requests for him from 9 to 11 each morning. We developed a schedule so that on Monday he places orders, Tuesday he pays his bills and does other accounting, Wednesday he works on his marketing, Thursday he works on his class and lesson schedule and on Friday he trains his team members.
Together we set short term and long term benchmarks to measure progress.
In a few months, he has developed a marketing plan, increased store traffic, added bicycle rentals to his services and reduced his inventory. He's more confident and sees a much brighter future.