It’s the New Year, and for many business owners, that means being in the market for a new business coach or mastermind leader.
After coaching entrepreneurs and being in the industry over 8 years – that makes me practically a veteran in the online world! – I wanted to share my perspective.
This post may be a bit controversial to some, and that’s ok. I also think it’s going to be really helpful for many, and will likely save a few people some pain.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and of course other credentials, skillsets, and characteristics come into play.
They are simply three areas I believe are crucial to consider, beyond feeling that a particular coach seems like a person you would actually enjoy working with.
1. Have they actually turned a profit in business before?
And no, I don’t necessarily mean their business as a coach.
Yes, I know we all need to start somewhere – AND – there is something to be said for running an actual business or businesses – unrelated to coaching – that have actually created income.
Income, NOT just revenue. Big difference.
For example, I had several “side hustles” I ran before I started teaching marketing to business owners as a coach and trainer.
Two of these in particular were successful and turned a profit, and it was through those experiences that I learned just how non-negotiable consistent marketing was. (A real estate investing business and a handmade wedding stationery business, in case you’re curious. The LLC I formed in early 2007 still exists to this day.)
2. Do they teach and coach you on tracking your KPIs and metrics?
I’m always amazed to find how many business coaches never even broach this subject with their clients.
KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators, are as integral to business success as creating content or getting out there and networking, if not more so.
If you don’t know your numbers, how can you possibly measure or improve upon your results?
If you don’t know your numbers, how can you possibly measure or improve upon your results? Click To Tweet
Kinda mindboggling.
3. Do they have social proof containing tangible, quantifiable results to share?
Not all social proof – i.e., testimonials and case studies – is created equal.
If a coach can’t produce a healthy quantity of results-based testimonials from current or past clients or students, this is a big red flag.
And no, “She was a great coach who was nice and I loved working with her!” is not quite what we’re talking about here.
Numbers, percentages, quantifiable real results – that’s what you should be looking for.
What are your thoughts on this? I’d love to hear what else you think should be considered. With more coaches than you can shake a stick at popping up every day – especially in the online space – it can be confusing to know who to trust and what to look for. Let’s continue this conversation in the comments!
So true….’cuz if you don’t know your numbers, any road will get you there.
This is my work with visionary entrepreneurs – how much you earn, how much you profit, and what you do with it.
Thanks for this message.
Exactly. And entrepreneurship is hard enough without a defined path and plan and clarity on where the heck you are!
Why “controversial”?
It makes sense to seek guidance from someone who walked the path to success before.
For “what else” I’d propose:
If they don’t have experience with your kind of business, can they easily adapt their coaching to it?
I think the more specific elements the coach and the client can establish rapport by, the better would be the results. I, for one, can’t imagine working with a coach that sticks to general guidelines and numbers.
and
Are they up-to-date with the technology your business is based on and with the social tendencies of your target market?
I think it’s important for a coach to be able to identify in which measure your results depend on your use of technology and on your understanding of the target market, compared to how well you implement the tools and strategy that the coach helps you with.
Hoping that my comment fits well with what you had in mind for a continuation,
Andrew
Thanks Andrew, I appreciate you adding your thoughts here and I agree with you 100%. Tech is a whole ‘nother ball of wax and I could do an entire blog series just on that as it relates to coaches! 🙂 As far as the controversial piece, I was thinking of the folks who are biz coaches themselves who could get butthurt (for lack of a better term haha) if these are things they aren’t doing – especially the making money in previous businesses piece. Just my intuitive hunch. Thank you for stopping by!