None of us could have predicted the devastating effects that COVID-19 would have all across the globe. And though we may be lucky enough to have inched closer to normalcy, many places are still taking precautionary measures in order to stop the continued spread and mutation of the virus.

This has left many industries devastated and struggling to return to day-to-day operations. Employees are understandably uneasy, anxious, and want that certainty they used to feel pre-pandemic. Many leaders aren’t sure about how to go about getting things back on track without feeling like they’re dismissing what happened, making them seem like a leader who lacks emotional intelligence and only cares for getting the business back on its feet because of the dismal economic climate. It’s a difficult line to tread—one that’s hard to walk without guidance.

Businesses that haven’t been affected by COVID-19, on the other hand, will also want guidance around their rapid growth and how to stay on that trajectory. A booming business wants to keep developing and a business coach can make that business success grow even more exponentially.

Which is why now, more than ever, leaders need business coaches to help them rebuild and reinvigorate their business as things slowly normalise. Business coaches are wise, experienced, and can guide a business leader. Even if they themselves have never experienced a pandemic either, they know the ins and outs of how businesses rise and fall and can steer a leader towards renewed success. Unforeseen circumstances or not, leaders need skilled business coaches. 

What is business coaching?

Business coaching isn’t just a glorified profession where you tell a business leader what to do and then let them go about their day. It’s a strategic process that doesn’t stop at just a to-do list. It’s about helping a client better their business through targeted strategy, establishment of goals, and plans with implementation accountability. 

A business coach is someone who knows the ins and outs of business pretty well, so much so that they can give you insight on trends and how they will affect your business. 

The process doesn’t just stop at improving you either. They help you develop your people and your capability at handling them. By becoming your coach, they’re also teaching you how to coach—and not micromanage—your staff. 

Through business coaching, you can improve and become more accountable, confident, and open to change and critique. Your business will only grow more efficient with a wiser you at the helm, always open to improvement and advice rather than turning away from it. You end up prioritising strategies that you and your business coach create, and make things run more smoothly. 

Business coaching culture

A lot of business coaches encourage leaders to pass what they’ve learned along, essentially making them their own business’ coach. Instead of just affecting the very top of the company, a business coach’s wisdom trickles down to everyone with the “coach approach” that business leaders eventually adopt.

This culture of coaching gets passed along to management. Being coached means you can subsequently coach others too, passing down a tradition of empathy. Instead of commanding and controlling every part of the business, micromanaging and nitpicking along the way, you become more of a guide to your staff—the same way your business coach is a guide to you. 

Doing this creates a more relaxed environment with higher staff morale. They don’t feel as anxious compared to when they’re just being told what to do without any guidance, critique, or mentorship. Once you adopt this mindset, your staff will appreciate it.

Strong coaching culture is also linked to better performance within organisations. This makes sense as being an inspiring leader who is invested in everyone’s growth, development, and happiness is better than being “just a boss” wanting results in times as tumultuous as these. 

8 reasons why leaders need business coaching

Business coaching can be helpful no matter the circumstance, unprecedented circumstances or not. Here are eight reasons why. 

1. Improve self awareness and feedback

There are some things you do as a business leader that you aren’t always aware of or conscious of. Maybe you say things in a way that can be misconstrued or you don’t say thank you to your staff members after they hand you something. Whether it’s big or small, a business coach will be able to notice that habit and let you know about it. 

It might not be something you’ll be happy to hear, but it’ll make you more self-aware of what you do. They’ll also be able to give you feedback on your leadership style. This feedback is crucial as it’ll help you be more self reflective and can help you and your coach strategise how best to use your strengths to your advantage.

Unlike your staff, they won’t be afraid to give you feedback and criticise you or your leadership style because they’re just doing their job. So getting that criticism is important as it’s impartial and you know your coach only wants you to improve. 

2. Overcome resistance to change

Just like a coach for any athlete, they push you to do something you haven’t done yet, to go the extra mile, in order to grow. A business coach will help you conquer your fears when it comes to the unknown and to change because change can be good and a business coach knows when to take calculated risks that will benefit you. 

Leaders often need a push in order to change their ways and they won’t always get that from their staff. They will need it from someone they purposefully look up to for their guidance and strategic leadership. A coach can do that for them and help challenge them. 

3. Identify areas of growth and development

A business leader is constantly watching, taking notes, and giving feedback. At different points, they’ll probably have a better grasp of your business than you do. Which makes them the right person to go to when it comes to advice around growing the business.

Because you’ve given them this intimate knowledge of your business, they know what aspects, departments, or even staff members to develop, to give more responsibilities to, and to focus on. They’ve got the know-how, so even if you’re calling them, panicking over the phone about being stuck, they may have a good idea of where you’re stuck and what you can do about it. 

4. Break through personal and business barriers

The comfortable can be dangerous, especially if there’s no growth happening. Slow and steady can be good sometimes, but in business, if you don’t adapt at a quick enough pace, it can be dangerous. 

Which is why business coaches challenge your comfort zone by helping you push through personal and professional barriers. Instead of just sitting pretty with your product getting the occasional good review, they’ll recommend you amp up marketing, do something exciting on social media, or even run a totally different kind of advertising campaign for it to catch more attention.

By pushing you harder, they help you take risks. They may not always work out, but they at least help you see what’s working and what isn’t. A coach will help you reach milestones when it comes to your business life and your personal life through their guidance. They don’t want to coach a client who’s too afraid of change, the whole point of hiring a coach is to be encouraged to try new things and gather findings from there. 

5. Make better decisions

A business coach has a very different perspective from yours and they’ve handled dozens, if not hundreds, of business leaders who have all had to make tough decisions, much like the ones you’re going to have to make. Because of their expertise, you can count on them to give you sage advice. 

6. Improve soft or people skills

It’s natural that staff can feel uneasy around you as you’re “the boss” and they may feel intimidated, but a business coach can help you with your soft skills and how to handle your people better so that they don’t part like the red sea when you enter the office. 

Just like how they can relate to you, they’ll help you relate to your staff much better and make them more comfortable around you. They’ll help you be more in touch with your empathic side, know how and when to praise employees, and give feedback that’s fair without being harsh.

7. Create a plan of action

A lot of leaders are used to trying to handle everything themselves, which is pretty unhealthy, leading them to long hours in the office. But with a business coach, you have someone on your side who can help you strategise. They have the expertise of putting together actionable plans that take everything into account, even things you may have missed. 

With a business coach, you have someone watching your blindside, too.

8. Accountability

While you may have been able to slip by with small mistakes before, a business coach can stop you from committing those errors and hold you accountable for your actions. Having someone there to confront you about why you did what you did makes you more cautious and more likely to think before acting.

You have no one else to blame when things go wrong and they’ll make sure that you get back on the right track. They’re only trying to help, no matter how critical they’re being. 

A business coach is a necessary part of your team, one that will keep you moving in the right direction, correct you if you’re veering away, and give you valuable feedback that will help you grow.

If you want to grow your business through successful business coaching, give us a call.