Is Business Coaching Really Worth It?

Growing up, we had coaches for all sorts of things - sports, debate, and 4-H livestock judging teams, so why as adults do, we tend to be resistant when it comes to coaching for our businesses?  

Did we stop learning?  After all, “Coach” is just another word for “Teacher” and a great teacher can make all the difference in the world in our lives.

According to a recent Forbes article “The Institute of Coaching cites that over 70% of individuals who receive coaching benefited from improved work performance, relationships and more effective communication skills.”

They also reported that a huge 86% of companies feel that they recouped the investment they made into coaching plus more on top.”

Why?  Coaches teach skills and accountability that are not typically taught in colleges or universities.

I have had personal coaches at almost every step in my career.  Most I paid for out of my own pocket because I believe in the dividends of investing in “ME”. 

Let’s face it, if my football or my 4-H coach could help make me more valuable to those teams, then it makes sense that a great business teacher can help make me become more valuable to my clients.

A LinkedIn survey showed that those who received coaching were on average seven times more productive than those who didn’t – SEVEN TIMES!  Personally, I find that number to be much higher.

In fact, I am such a huge believer in coaching that I gave up a high profile, six-figure corporate career to become a full-time business adviser.   Even so, I am the first to admit, that I am not for everyone.

I specialize in building sales-focused businesses - in particular to affluent clients.  As a subject matter expert, I am the sum of my experiences and observations – the kind you only get from doing the job, making mistakes (sometimes- huge ones), learning, and acting not to repeat them.

To be fair, coaching isn’t for everyone.  First and foremost, you have to be open to it – you must be coachable.  Second, you are literally putting the future of your business in the hands of the coach, so the need to trust that the coach has your best interests at heart, not their own agenda is paramount.  Without that trust, the relationship will not work.

Back to the original question, is business coaching worth the investment?  You be the judge.

I am often asked about my own coach. For the past couple of years, I have been working with James Wedmore and his team at Business by Design.  James specializes in building businesses online, an area most of us, especially me - need a lot of help!

To say his program and ongoing coaching has been instrumental in my business would be an understatement.  I have never endorsed a business development program outside of my own, but I am making an exception because this has had such an impact on my own business.

James has released a FREE eight-part video series called “The Rise of the Digital CEO” that I recommend for anyone working to build your business online. 

Take a few minutes to check out this training series — which has already helped thousands of struggling entrepreneurs.