MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR SMALL BUSINESS: 3 Strategies To Work On With Your Business Coach


Entrepreneurs and small business owners aren’t looking for quick answers. They are looking for affordable ways to effect permanent change. Partnering with a business coach maximizes effectiveness and profitability. Such increases results in higher quality of life and has a favorable bottom-line result.

Over the past few years, while coaching entrepreneurs to take their business to the next level, I have found, regardless of the type of business or industry, there are several key areas where a coach can be most effective. Three of the most important areas to focus on with these clients are:

1. DON'T JUST WORK ON THE BUSINESS, WORK ON THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

Virtually all coaching is personal coaching, even business coaching. People comprise the business and are usually the source of increasing profitability. The more you can help them develop communication skills, improve the quality of their life, challenge them to think bigger, etc., the more successful the business will be. This is particularly true with small businesses. As most small business are an extension of the owner’s personality and level of development, the “bigger” the owner is personally, the more successful the business will be.

2. DON’T JUST COACH THEM IN THEIR BUSINESS COACH THEM ON THEIR BUSINESS.

Small business owners are SO busy running their business that often they can’t see the big picture. They are too are too close to it. Smart owners work on their business, leaving time and space for broader perspective and acting on other opportunities.

Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth, points out, you want your small business client to work IN their business to the same extent that they are with clients, or noticing the many operational details, and creating and managing. At the same time, this can limit their perspective and tire them out, so encourage them to work ON their business, too. To do this they would get reports from others, stay out of many operational details, and focus on the flow or energy of the business.

To work ON vs. IN the business requires new management skills. The coach helps by explaining, educating and offering perspective and context on how to successfully reach the “ON” in the business..

3. FOCUS ON PROFITABILITY

The most important thing to a small business is sustaining and increasing profitability. However, as crucial as profitability is for survival, very often owners get caught up in the planning, or focus too much attention on reacting to day-to-day problems. Sure, everyone gets excited, but who's making sure the company is making money, and lots of it? Entrepreneurs are aware of the bottom line, but frequently because they are entrepreneurs are more committed to building and creating than making and saving money. The coach needs to step in and focus all parties in this area and start viewing everything the client does in terms of profitable/not profitable and the clients will too.

Successful executives have always relied on a mentor, trusted colleague, or business partner for advice and encouragement. Today, with the emergence of professional business coaches, entrepreneurs and small business owners are also discovering ways to get this solid useful advice and perspective.



Patricia S. Kilgannon M.Ed., is a recognized Coach, Consultant and Speaker. She is founder of "Success Coaching," a personal and business coaching firm that offers results-oriented solutions providing clients with the skills necessary to bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be. For your free copy of “The Top 10 Helpful Hints To Increase The Odds Of Success For A Small Business” Or “The Top 10 Most Common Mistakes That Entrepreneurs Make,” call 215-348-9192, or email Success@pil.net.