So, What is business coaching you ask?

What is business coaching…? there’s that burning question – and what can it actually do for you?

To me, coaching is a space through which executives, managers and staff can achieve their highest potential. Coaching and mentoring are alike in many ways – but the big difference is that a mentor needs a skillset or knowledge base in the area you’re both working, a coach needs no prerequisites other than coaching skills/qualifications. Let’s look at some of the things your business coach will do for you, your staff and your business.

• Coaches learn to apply techniques and tools in creative ways. This offers skills such as facilitation, one-on-one training, counselling, or networking.
• The act of coaching encourages coaches into a commitment to action and development. The goal? Lasting growth and effective change.
• Encouraging clients to constantly advance competencies and to expand developmental association whenever necessary to attain their goals.
• Coaching helps clients build their individual competencies. Conversely ensuring they don’t build unhealthy dependencies on the coaching relationship.
• Look to the outcomes! Not only do we put a process of coaching in place to help week to week, but work to more “Ultimate” goals – both personal and work-related.
• Invite exploration of needs, desires, motivations, skills and the thought processes. These assist the client in making real and lasting changes.
• Coaches become ambassadors throughout coaching sessions! A coach is in the client’s corner – there’s no space for judgement (providing you’re not drowning puppies!). There’s no embarrassment, no weakness or unnecessary barriers.
• That said… coaches call out the bs. coaches support their coachees but that doesn’t make a “yes-man”, often the opposite. For many executive coaching clients, the coach is one of few people who can give push back to the coachee without
• Maintaining an ever-evolving relationship between client and coach. Different clients require different support, sessions, and durations. After each session, I reflect on the way it’s gone and going – part of that is the longterm needs.
• Client observation; listen and ask the questions needed to understand the landscape.
• Expand with questioning techniques to uncover the client’s thought processes which in turn identify solutions and actions.
• Offer substantive feedback on the best way to convey requests and suggestions to others?
• Provide skills to build trust and acceptance.
• Develop confidence, combating inhibiting beliefs and imposter syndrome.
• Examine behaviours which get in the way of achieving goals. Then discover ways to avoid them in future.

Business coaching is a widely recognised valuable tool to develop, grow, and succeed. There are no limitations on who can be coached provided they’re willing and open to trying.