Business coaching can be a considerable investment. Therefore, it is essential to find the right coach for your needs and goals to avoid wasting time, money, or energy. This blog post will discuss finding a legit business coach who has the knowledge and experience you need.

Business coaches everywhere

You might wonder why there is a need to put the word "legit" next to "business coach" in the title of this article. The truth is that there are many business coaches out there, and the problem is that some of them are only self-proclaimed business coaches. The coaching industry is mainly not regulated, so it's easy for somebody to say they are a business coach and that they can help you with their business coaching services.

The term "business coach" might sound vague to some people, so for clarity, a business coach is a type of life coach who primarily helps small business owners succeed in meeting their business goals and support the client's emotional and motivational growth. Considering that business growth is at stake when hiring a business coach, you must employ a legit one and not some pretentious individual who acts as an experienced coach.

Finding a coach who can provide the right business coaching services

You have to consider several things to see if the coach you will be working with is a legit one and, at the same time, a right fit for you.

1. Research about their credentials

Before diving in to hire a business coach, do some searching online. Look at the profile of the prospective coaches you are looking to hire. Pay attention and see if there are any mentions of certifications or credentials in their profile. We said before that the coaching industry is primarily unregulated. Still, the good news is that professional organizations exist and give proper accreditation and certification to life coaches. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is one such organization that provides training and certification to coaches. So, for example, if you see a business coach is appropriately given accreditation by the ICF and explicitly states that he has undergone training, this is a good sign that the individual is a professional and knows what he is doing.

2. Show me your work

Reading the profile of business coaches and seeing certifications might not be enough to convince you that what you are looking at is accurate. With the power of the Internet, it is easy to scour for additional background information on the coaches that caught your interest. Look up testimonials and reviews from other people, especially those that became clients of the business coach you are eyeing. If most people have a favorable coach review, it's a good sign that you will hire the right business coach. Also, if possible, try to see if there are any videos online showing the coach's work in action. Big-name coaches might have one. These videos will let you know how the coach works with his clients and see if he is the right fit for you.

3. Been there, done that

So your prospective business coach has the credentials and good testimonials to back up his claims. Is he the right one for you already? Not yet. A good coach is someone who is preferably a business owner himself. Having his own business means the coach understands how a company works from the perspective of an owner. Business coaches who are not business people will only make their teachings theoretical since they do not know how to run a business, and they do not know if what they are telling you will work for you and your business. Also, if you ever find a business coach that promises quick profit returns and overnight success, stay away from a coach like this. A coach that is a business expert is the one you will like to work together.

4. Providing a customized service

Most coaches offer a free initial consultation when you want to work with them, and this is an advantage to you as the client. The initial consultation lets you understand the business coach's core values, growth plans, and work process. Ask questions to know better the coach you are interviewing. One important thing to ask is the method and system they use to help their client. The best coaches use proven techniques and strategies to help their client's businesses grow. A coach who only mentions assisting entrepreneurs on the emotional and motivational side is not an effective one. You might as well go to a therapist if this is the case. A good business coach also provides personalized advice and solutions to clients depending on the stated goals. No one-size approach will solve every client's need, and the business coach must know this.

5. It's all about you

An excellent and legit business coach knows how to listen. A coach that mostly tells information about himself and his expertise is a warning sign. Business coaching is all about the client, and the coach should be the guide to help the client achieve goals, not gloat on his achievements. A good coach asks questions about the client because he wants to know more about you and establish a good rapport between the two of you. He will let you talk about your concerns and listen to them and provide the right solutions and actions that need to be done based on what you tell him.

6. Your personalities must be a match

Suppose the business coach you are looking to hire is legit and sound, and all of the above criteria apply. In that case, one last thing will determine if you are ready to engage in business coaching: having compatible personalities. Through the initial interview, you can get an inkling of the coach you are interviewing and see if the coach's personality matches with yours. No matter how excellent and legit a business coach is, if the two of you can't agree on how to do things, the business coaching won't be successful. A good business coach respects who you are as a person and, at the same time, knows how to push you out of your comfort zone in just the right way. In the end, it's you who will have that gut feeling and make the decision if you want to work with a particular business coach.

Business coaching done right.

As an entrepreneur, you want your business to flourish and become a successful business, but there will be times where you might find yourself stuck and don't know how to progress. A business coach is a partner that can give you help on exactly what you need to do to help your business earn more clients and more money. The ideal business coach provides advice and services to help you learn the necessary skills, gain confidence in running your business, and take it to the next level. Effective business coaches also have specialties in specific areas to better manage your business, like teaching you how to improve your mindset, sell a business product effectively, or managing your finances. The help provided must be specific and not just general know-how. If you find that the coach you are looking to hire does not meet any or most of the things mentioned in this article, better start looking elsewhere. Invest in the right one to get the business coaching service you need.