6 Tips on how to be a Good Business Coach

Before you hire a business coach, you need to know how to be a good business coach. Let me explain.

If you know nothing about what makes a good coach, you are susceptible to being swindled by phony “coaches” who only care about your money. Understanding how to be a good business coach helps you get loads more value from the coaching experience.

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1- A Good Business Coach has had Business Success

There is no point in learning how to grow and sustain a business from a businessperson who has never grown a successful business. Look for a business coach who has both proven business success and proven coaching success. Some of the most successful people in a given industry make the lousiest coaches.

Before you hire a business coach, vet all the claims they make on their site. If someone says they were featured in an industry publication or other media outlet, look for that content.

Look for client and customer testimonials. Stories of customer satisfaction and client success serve as proof a business coach is competent.

2- A Good Business Coach is a Good Listener

Being a “good listener” is important for success in both your professional and personal life, but what does it mean to be a good listener?

First, it takes other-orientation. You have to focus your attention on the other person and the message, both verbal and nonverbal, they’re sending. A good business coach treats their client as if they are the most important thing on their mind.

Good listeners also backtrack, which is simply repeating what a person says to ensure they have understood the message clearly.

3- A Good Business Coach has a Love for Teaching

It is easy to assume a good business person should be able to teach others what they know, but many fall short in this department. The truth is a lot of successful business people are selfish with their time. They always feel as if their time can be better spent on something that directly affects their business.

Remember those client testimonials mentioned earlier? A coach’s testimonials, or lack thereof, give you a clue as to whether they love teaching. The initial consultation meeting gives you a chance to feel a coach out. Ask these following questions:

  • Why did you get into business coaching?
  • How do you deal with failure?
  • What makes a good business coach?

Pay attention to both the verbal and nonverbal aspects of how a coach answers these questions. You should be able to feel the passion in their response.

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4- A Good Business Coach has a Positive Mindset

There is a reason “ perception is reality ” is a popular cliché. So much of success comes down to mindset. A good coach has a relentlessly positive outlook on life. They don’t see failure as something negative, but rather as a learning experience.

This positive mindset is how business coaches help their clients develop the resiliency necessary to thrive when challenged.

5- A Good Business Coach is Accessible

The best business coaches make themselves as accessible as possible to their clients. They go beyond scheduled sessions by answering emails, calls, and text messages whenever they can.

Be sure to ask about a coach’s accessibility policy during the initial consultation.

6- A Good Business Coach holds you Accountable

Some coaches don’t actually care whether their clients succeed, so long as they keep paying for sessions. You want a business coach who pushes you to apply their methodologies and generate results.

While it may come across as tough love, a business coach who holds you accountable has your best interests at heart.

Final Thoughts on how to be a Good Business Coach

To recap, the six aspects of a good business coach we just covered are:

  1. Business Success
  2. Great Listening Skills
  3. A Love of Teaching
  4. A Positive Mindset
  5. Is Accessible
  6. Holds You Accountable

Now that you know how to be a good business coach, you have all the information you need to find the right coach for you.

Arman has over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs like yourself interject sustainable growth into their business. Schedule your consultation here.

Sources

10 Things to Look for in a Business Coach

The 8 Qualities You Need to Look for in a Business Coach

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Comments (3)

  1. Avatar for Arman Sadeghi Linda Jackson says:

    good list. My brother hired a business coach for his business and he turned out to just be after money. He had none of the qualities on this list. It is too bad he didn’t have your list.

  2. Avatar for Arman Sadeghi Tisha Harrison says:

    Interesting. I like the idea of a coach that keeps me accountable. I don’t want someone who is just going to tell me what I want to hear so the checks keep coming. Business is good, but I want it to be better. This makes me think about hiring a business coach.

  3. Avatar for Arman Sadeghi Dana Black says:

    Good stuff. I would love a business coach who is accessible and actually cares about my success. It’s like with a therapist who watches every minute of the clock to make sure they don’t give away time. I want a coach who cares about results over billable hours.

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