If you have a desire to build a solid, thriving business, you’ve (or at least you will) likely conclude that you can’t do it by yourself.
Enter the infamous quote: “It’s hard to see the picture when you are the frame.” Think about it, if you are the frame, you have no idea what’s going on with your picture. To that end, I think we can agree that it’s safe to say that you will need to engage someone else to review your picture.
Enter a coach. Now, I am of the belief that you should have a coach for every area of your life. And seldom can one coach effectively transform you in every area.
I’m just saying.
So, when the time comes for you to hire a coach (trust me it will) what will determine who you choose? I received this question via AskDarnyelle.com and I was pretty excited because I feel that enough people don’t ask this question. Seriously, they jump on the bandwagon with little to no evaluation of whether their choice will get them the results they truly desire.
Before I go there, however, I feel the need to define coaching vs. mentorship. Coaching is an intuitive process by which the coach asks you deep and probing questions to help you discover the right solutions within yourself. Coaches should help you realize that you already possess the answers but required help to find them. Mentoring on the other hand is the process by which someone who has already done what you desire to do tells and shows you how to do it as well.
***Sidebar: While I can’t speak for other coaches, I can tell you that my programs are a strategic blend of coaching and mentoring. I think that a good coach will know the appropriate time to do either activity. But the coach should never “highjack” the client’s agenda.
Enter Darnyelle. I have no vested interest here. I am going to objectively share, what, in my opinion, your next business coach/mentor should possess in the qualities department.
Fair enough?
Okay, here we go:
1. Your next coach or mentor should be experienced. They should have been where you are and successfully transitioned to where you want to go. In other words, they should be the “after” to your “before.” I am of the belief that you can’t lead where you haven’t gone. If you haven’t experienced it, it’s just theory. And I would not recommend that you hire a coach or anyone for that matter based on theory. They should be able to speak to their own path of growth and discovery. They should have already done what you endeavor to do now.
2. They should be ACTIVELY doing what you want to do. Not 3 years ago. Not in the days of their youth. Today, every day in their business they should be doing what you are looking to do in yours. You see, a good coach or mentor will be actively working their business even as they show you how to grow yours. That way they can give real life examples during your coaching.
3. Their results should speak for them. They should have tons of social proof to validate the results they assert they can help you achieve. You should talk to some of their clients. You should be able to read tons of testimonials. It should be obvious after reading or watching their testimonials that they are good at what they do and they can help you.
4. Their values and beliefs should be in alignment with yours. This is an important one. In order to be motivated and held accountable, you have to want to learn and respond to the person who is in that position. You should like them. Something about them should resonate with you on a deep level. Dare I say it, a spiritual level? Building a business is, in my opinion, a spiritual journey and having a coach or mentor who aligns with you this way is important because faith and finance can and should co-exist.
5. They should challenge you. My favorite quote is “a coach tells you what you don’t want to hear and shows you what you don’t want to see so that they can help you to become who you were created to be.” Your coach should not be your friend; they should be your mirror. They should hold up the image of who you really are before your fears and doubts and successfully transform you to the belief that you can and will do anything.
I think being honest, in integrity, transparent, results-oriented, process oriented, authentic and knowledgeable all go without saying but just in case you needed me to say it, here they are.
At the end of the day, choose a person who meets the above criteria, who makes you feel like you can fly and then you can visualize your business (and life) bloom and blossom in record time.
There are many coaches to choose from and I just recommend that you take the time to find the right one for you so that you get what you need and avoid making an investment in the “hype.”
***Sidebar (again): if they have a problem producing results or answering your questions….RUN, FORREST, RUN!!! Seriously, coaches should be in business to help others experience transformation. If someone gets defensive this is a good indication that they have something to hide.
I also feel compelled to share that as of this blog post, coaching is a de-regulated profession. That means anybody can call themselves a coach. In my opinion, a real coach will have experience in a coaching related position (there are many) or have completed some form of training so that they can learn how to usher their clients to transformation. I’m sure that there are exceptions to every rule but the person should know how to lead people to results from a job, volunteer work or formal training.
I’m just saying (again).
If you would like to determine if I could be your next coach, request a discovery session via my website. I’d be happy to schedule a 15 minute call with you.
©2012 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, MBA, The Incredible Factor Speaker, Business Coach and Marketing Mentor, is the founder of Incredible One Enterprises.com, Incredible Factor University® the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step-by-step program for more clients, more income and more leverage in your business. For more information and a FREE audio CD “7 Critical Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid When Unleashing Your Incredible Factor So You Attract More Clients, Make More Money and Gain More Leverage” just fill out the form below.
