How coaching can help SME's

Through my 22 years as a small business owner, I have grown to understand the challenges faced by many owner managers.  Feeling they need to be an expert in everything without having the time to focus on anything.  I remember at one point, the business was doing well, we were making money, but we needed something more to really develop and grow. 

When I looked around for the right type of support, there was support available but it all seemed to involve, someone teaching me more skills, online marketing, brand consultants, sales development and technology consultants.  These skills would have been amazing but I simply did not have time to implement them fully. 

It wasn’t until recently, when I took time to reflect on myself and my career, that I realised what I needed. 

Someone independent to talk with, to tease out all the thoughts and ideas I had in my head.  To be able to work through, process, to begin to focus and plan for change, both in my own life and the development of the business.

What I needed was a COACH.

How can coaching make a difference?

The expert of your life, career and business is YOU! 

You know what works, what doesn’t, what gets in the way and where the opportunities might be.  You know your customers, your team and your suppliers.

What you may not have, is the time and space to reflect, discuss, test and focus on where you want to be, now and in the future.

That is what Coaching can offer.  Coaching provides you with a safe, supportive, environment for you to truly identify your gaols and aspirations.  A coach works with you using a variety of tools and frameworks, to align your actions with your goals and the future you want.

A professional coach will help you focus on your whole life, not just your work life.  They’ll help you identify who you want to be and help you find a path that best suits you. 

Ultimately, they believe you have what it takes to life a truly fulfilling life and career.

Does Coaching really work?

Long gone are the days where Executive Coaching was the domain of the C Suite of fortune 500 companies.  Don’t get me wrong, most large organisations throughout the world have internal coaching programmes including Google, Microsoft, IBM, P&G and many others. But these programmes are no longer just for senior management.

The International Coaching Federation (ICF), Global Coaching study 2020, shows that coaching is growing in almost all aspects of life across the globe.  With over 22,000 responses from 161 counties and an estimated market worth over $2.8 billion per annum.

Coaching for small business can offer many benefits including.

1.      Clarity and Focus

2.      Improved Decision Making

3.      Enhanced Productivity

4.      Personal Growth and Development

5.      Stress Management

6.      Improved Leadership Skills

7.      Accountability

8.      Innovation & Creativity

9.      Better Relationships

Coaching has gained a reputation for delivering tangible results for both the client and their organisation.  It helps to bring about lasting change that is specific and targeted to help the client reach their goals. 

Ultimately, when you are focused on your goals, have a clear plan of action and a process to assess your progress, then you are already much closer to achieving the life you really want.

Coaching, Supporting small businesses of all kinds!