A business coach can be a valuable asset for your business and your career. With experience in starting and running their own companies, business coaches have the insight and knowledge to help you while you continue on your path as an entrepreneur.
In order to make the most of the wealth of expertise that your business coach has, we recommend asking six particular questions that will lead to valuable opportunities for developing new insights into the world of entrepreneurship.
What are my areas of opportunity?
A great question entrepreneurs should always be asking is “What and where are my areas of opportunity?” No entrepreneur is ever finished learning, and asking questions like this will provide opportunities for improvement, growth and development. This question is also broad enough that your business coach can tap into both personal and professional areas, which will ensure the great opportunity for continued improvement.
Which skill/talent should I focus on?
With their busy schedule and numerous responsibilities, few entrepreneurs can be an expert in everything – but they can definitely be the expert in their chosen field. Asking questions like this enables you to see what your skills and passions look like from the outside. This helps in providing you with clarity and enables you to focus on what is most important to you, and disregard what isn’t.
What are my end goals? (Or, what should determine my end goals?)
One of the most important aspects of entrepreneurship is knowing what success looks and feels like to you, and the answers to this question are surprisingly varied. For some entrepreneurs success is primarily based on money, and for others, the ability to spend more time doing the things they love matters most. In order to succeed, you must know what success looks like to you – and your business coach can help you get there.
What is holding me back from my next level?
No matter how successful your entrepreneurial efforts are, there is always potential for further growth – both in business and in a personal sense. Your business coach knows this well, and will help identify the areas in which you are succeeding, and those in which you are falling behind. Approaching every situation with the willingness to learn and improve can make all the difference in entrepreneurship, and your business coach will help give you the tools to continue learning and growing.
What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?
Any question about leadership must first be answered with this: nobody is a perfect leader. Every person responds differently to all leadership styles, and there is no one size fits all when it comes to being a leader. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be a great leader. Your business coach has experience on both of the sides of leadership – leading and being led – and they can help you determine which leadership style suits you, your company and your employees best.
What would you do if you were me?
It’s a question that’s so simple that many people don’t think to ask. However, it is one of the most important questions an entrepreneur can ask their business coach. By asking this, you give your business coach the opportunity to give you clinical advice that is directly focused on the realities of your situation. They will be able to approach your situation without the stress and emotions that can complicate decision-making, giving you clarity on what you need to do next.
The founder of Evolution Business Marketing & Communications, Chris Cathers has decades of experience in all aspects of entrepreneurship. With valuable insights on marketing, communications, accountability, Chris provides business coaching to clients and their companies across a wide variety of industries and sizes. Contact us at info@evolutionbusiness.ca or call us at 1-250-740-1844 to find out more about how Chris can help you take your business to the next level.
