What Is Small Business Coaching and Who Needs It?

Small businesses are often started based on someone's skill set, expertise, passion (e.g. web design, social media marketing, IT services, electrician, plumber, handyman, bookkeeping) or a new/improved product.  Early on such businesses often succeed based on the sheer drive and determination of the founder(s).

As the business grows, more and more challenges appear on the horizon. These can encompass any number of business functions from selling to marketing the business, expense tracking, having to figure out when it's time to hire, creating job descriptions, etc.  It is quite common that the business owner feels overwhelmed by having to juggle a lot of different priorities, especially those that are outside his or her expertise.  Some of these challenges can be outsourced to virtual assistants, web site design and social media companies,  accountants, etc.

A lot of the higher level decision making remains though.  That's when business owners often feel stuck.  They feel overwhelmed.  This is very common.  Everyone needs help with something and an outside perspective can be just what is needed. If you relate this to sports, it is obvious that even the best athletes use coaches.  In fact, it is usually the case that the best are at the "top of their game" precisely because they have a coach.

Each football team that competes for the Super Bowl has multiple coaches (head coach, special teams, etc.).  It's not that the players don't know the rules of the game or how to warm up and practice.  After all, they have been playing for years to even be considered contenders for the Lombardi trophy.

However, like the rest of us, they too need someone else to point out things that could be improved or someone to encourage them when they feel they can't do one more drill.  OK, "encourage" may not be the right word in this context but you get the picture.  It is also essential for groups of athletes to have coaches that help them "become a team".

The same applies to businesses.

Even leaders of Fortune 500 companies have coaches. Both Bill Gates of Microsoft and Eric Schmidt of Google advocate using business coaches to "improve their game".

If you own a business or if you are in charge of a team at work, find out if coaching is right for you. Before you decide though, make sure you find the right coach for you.


If you would like to find out if coaching is right for you and your business, contact Heike at [email protected] or call 410-980-5299 to set up a no-commitment, no-cost conversation. It's time to put the fun back in your business.