business strategy
S
uccessful athletes need the
right coaches, and in the
world of the entrepreneur,
the best of the best probably
have access to and work with a business
coach. The main difference is that
unlike sports stars, business owners
don’t need to be at their peak for a one-
off event or even a season, they must be
at their best every single day.
So, how do you go about choosing a
coach? Simple, says Marilyn Burton.
You ask the tough questions that will
assist you in selecting a
person worthy of working
with you. That someone will
help drive your success, hold
you to account and transform
your effort into performance.
2. Personality. Do you feel comfortable
with this person? You are going to be
working side by side, so you need to
get along with them, share a similar
mindset or be open to learning from
their expanded mindset. Do they
communicate with clarity?
3. Ascertain their expertise and
experience. Do they walk the walk or
simply talk the talk? Will they empower
you and encourage you to expand your
thinking? Can they match your learning
style? A good coach will find that out
understand what their client is going
through emotionally.
6. Does this coach keep up with
Business trends? Can they demonstrate
their continued learning? The world
is changing, your coach needs to be
relevant.
7. Social proof. Can your coach give you
testimonials from past clients and the
chance to talk to them personally?
8. Will they challenge you? If you want
to grow you need a coach
who will challenge and
stretch you and sometimes
that will feel uncomfortable,
but it’s needed.
Coaching is something that puts
elite athletes on podiums and a
business coach can separate the best
From Usain Bolt to Steve
Jobs, the best of the best
understands the power of
working with a great coach.
Coaching is something
that puts elite athletes on
podiums and a business
coach can separate the best
business people from the
rest. No matter where your business
is at, the right coach will take it to
the next level. A great coach will
provide everything from an external
perspective on your business, to
ongoing support designed to help
you to reach and maintain peak
professional performance.
business people from the rest. No
matter where your business is at, the
right coach will take it to the next
So, the million-dollar question is how
do you choose the right person? My
advice would be to look at the following:
1. Do they offer you a free initial
consultation to find out more about
you and your business and give you a
chance to find out more about them?
AUTHOR
MARILYN BURTON
Owner, B & B Burton Pty Ltd
[email protected]
level.
so you can have the optimum learning
experience and benefit. Do they have
the relevant experience or expertise
and understand your business?
4. Are they passionate? Your coach
should be like a business partner and
invested as much in your business as
you are and want more for you then you
are able to see for yourself. Find out
why they became a business coach.
5. Have they ever run their own
business? Working, even as a high-level
CEO in someone else’s business does
not have the same pressures as owning
your own business. It’s important
your coach has experienced this to
9. How objective are they?
You don’t want a people
pleaser. You want someone
who will look at the issues
objectively and open your
mind to the best options to
address them
10. Transparency. Are they
completely transparent in
everything they say and do? Can you
rely on that transparency throughout
your coaching relationship?
11. Fees. Have they clearly explained
what their fees are and what you’ll
receive from them in return? Is there
a contract or a time period you are
committed to? Change doesn’t happen
overnight and a coach, after talking to
you, should recommend a minimum
time period you should work together
to get the optimum results.
12. Do they have a guarantee? In terms
of guarantee, if you do the work will
they guarantee the support they’ve
promised can bring results with
concrete examples of success?