Episode F.021 Businesses Have Changed But The Basic Needs Haven’t

The Basic Need to Educate
Ask 10 different people to define what coaching is and you will most likely get 10 different answers. Since coaching is not regulated, there are many different ideas of what constitutes coaching. 

For instance, here is a popular definition: “A small business coach is a professional who knows the ins and outs of running a business. This includes (but is not limited to) advice about being a better manager, handling the stress of being a business owner, finding additional revenue, and increasing your company's sales.”

The International Coaching Federation and other institutions have been working hard to standardize our field. ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

The true power of coaching is allowing the client to choose their course of action instead of telling them what to do. This allows the client to own their progress and their results. 

The Basic Need of State Management

1. Exude Confidence: You need to be able to present yourself and talk about your services with confidence when approaching potential clients and you need to be comfortable and confident in what it is that you do.
2. Be Coachable: Every coach should have a coach or have been in a paid coaching relationship as the client. 
3. Be a Great Learner. Set the example you want your client to follow by continuing to hone your coaching skills with courses and books in your field. 

Coaching isn’t a business to take lightly. People are entrusting their emotional and possibly their physical well-being to you. You owe it to them to stay on top of current trends in your industry, as well as best practices for coaches. My coaching philosophy - people are people. Grow the person and you grow the business. This includes growing you as a coach.

The Basic Need of Focus
People make decisions on emotions. Many business owners have been going through an emotional roller coaster. They are living in fight or flight mode and have probably lost sight of why they even started the business. A great place to start is by helping them create a new vision, attach it to their purpose and coach them to determine their first step forward. 

1. Vision (where) 
2. Purpose (why)
3. First step (how)

Many business owners will hire a business coach to help them tackle specific tasks and objectives. The coach helps set the objectives, determines the number of sessions needed to meet the goal, and charges a fee for the service. 

The Basic Need to Provide Exceptional Business Coaching 
Always remember your coaching basics. They have been proven to work and create powerful results when used with your clients. Trust yourself to provide space for your client to explore new ideas for their business. 

1. Allow Your Client to "Figure It Out"  
2. Use Powerful Questioning 
3. Understand Their Business Motivation
4. Set Goals 
5. Establish Trust ​

​Written by: Donna Kunde