Have you ever met a CEO of a big company? I have known many, and none of them ever started their career as a knowledgeable CEO and executive.
Rather they all started their career at a junior level, and through years of training, experience, making mistakes, growing, mentoring, and developing themselves and their careers, they took many incremental steps (some forward, some backwards) on their path to success.
And even once appointed, they have a tremendous support crew.
Despite their training, experience and often many degrees, they have advisors and a board of directors to give them guidance, an executive team to support them, and other consultants and coaches to keep them on track and accountable to their goals.
They make sure they have an environment for success, as they realize they don’t have all the answers and so make sure that they have the people, time and resources to support, guide and keep them and the company on track for their goals.
As the CEO of your own business, why would you expect anything less?
As the CEO of your business, you also have a similar path, and to really achieve the results and outcomes your desire, just like that corporate CEO you need to start somewhere, to make mistakes, to grow, and develop yourself, and get the support and expertise you need. You can’t and shouldn’t try to do it alone.
Many entrepreneurs while incredibly gifted at their craft, may not have the knowledge, skills and experience to grow, market and scale their business and create the highly profitable & luxurious freedom based lifestyle they dream about. I honestly and in full integrity believe 100% that to succeed you need support.
But how do I choose?
Hiring the wrong coach is worse than having no coach. I have made a couple of mistakes in the past, and it was not only a waste of money, it cost me income and time as I stepped backwards, not forwards.
However when I have worked with the RIGHT coach/mentor my business just catapulted. And now I have specific criteria that I look for when I hire a mentor, and for me to go forward they need to meet ALL of them, and I am sharing them with you today.
1. Coaching Certification
So many people call themselves a “coach” when they do not have any formal coach training. Even if they have expertise in a subject, it doesn’t mean they are a coach. Coaching is a profession, and there are standards, methods, and guidelines. Coaching is about transformation and helping people work through blocks, blind spots and tough spots.
And if they don’t know what they are doing, they can do a lot of damage, and negatively imprint their clients. However when properly trained, they can truly partner with their client to create magic.
Think about it, if someone would like you to invest with them, don’t you want to be sure that they have taken the time to invest in their training and certification?
2. Subject Matter Expertise
In addition to a certification, to be truly able to help you, the coach needs to have knowledge and experience in the topic they are coaching you in. I am always looking to increase my skills and knowledge base and to learn. I can’t do this if my coach isn’t at least 2 steps ahead of me in the subject.
3. Values Match
I made the mistake once of hiring a coach who had very different values than I did, and so of course the relationship didn’t work as I didn’t want to the work, as what she asked of me, violated my boundaries and values. Note her values weren’t wrong, they were just different!
So it’s very important that whom you choose to work with, on some level shares your values. We are all individuals, so no one person will be exactly like you, however make sure that when you choose a coach, that your values align in a way that you are comfortable.
4. The Investment Is a Financial Stretch
What a financial stretch is for you, really depends on where you are in your business. However if you hire a coach based on price and affordability you likely aren’t going to get the results you desire. Why?
First of all, if the investment is too comfortable, you don’t have that much at stake and it becomes easy to not do the work.
Secondly, if you have big goals and dreams your coach needs to believe it’s possible for you and to hold you accountable for it. It’s pretty hard to do that, if they don’t think and act big for themselves. No matter what they say, internally they are out of alignment.
Recently I hired a coach who I thought was an expert in a very specific skill that I needed help with. I was a bit worried when she quoted her fees and they were less than a 1/3 of what I charge my clients. I went ahead with it because I wanted to learn her skill.
Energetically we weren’t matched. It was not the right decision. Her “money stuff” did come up in our time together (even once suggesting I lower my goals), and because she wasn’t owning her expert ability by charging appropriately for it, rightly or wrongly, I wasn’t accepting it either.
So now, I make sure that anyone I invest with charges enough to make me uncomfortable enough to keep in action, and get results.
5. They Have a Track Record
Simply put, I want to see testimonials. I want to know they have credibility, I want to know that others have had results.
6. I Resonate With Them
This piece is super important. It doesn’t matter how good a coach a person is, or how skilled they are, nor what great results their clients get if you don’t resonate with them. You are going to be working closely with them as your guide and your mentor, so make sure you LIKE them, and have chemistry, and that you trust them.
Strong Partnerships = Strong Results
Hiring the RIGHT coaches at the right time is part of my formula for success and it is the formula for all successful entrepreneurs. If a corporate CEO has a lot of support and help and direction, and it’s not even their money, you shouldn’t settle for less. Get the help you need, and make sure it’s the RIGHT help for you.
If it’s time for you to get the help you need to grow your business, I’d love to have a 30 minute complimentary consult with you! You can apply here
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