So, you’ve decided that you’d benefit from the services of a business coach. This is great news! it’s an important step that shows you’re serious about your business and its growth. But what next? Finding a coach is sometimes easier said than done. Of course, you want to find coaching that works well for you and your business. No matter what your needs are, that person is out there. It’s just a matter of discovering them! So, in today’s post, we’ll be going through some of the best ways to find a business coach to work with. From the very first steps you need to take, all the way up to ensuring that they are the right fit for you, this is an important process, and you want to give yourself the best chance at success. As a business coach myself, I know just how important it is for coach and client to have a good relationship, so I hope that these tips will help you in your journey.

So what are the best ways to find a business coach?

Let’s take a closer look at the first steps you can take:

Establish what your needs really are

If you’ve made the decision that you’d benefit from a business coach, you probably already know what your needs are. But, it’s very important to have a clear definition of the services you require from a coach before you seriously start looking. This will help you to narrow down the search and give you the best chance of success. Different coaches specialise in different things. For example, I mainly help business owners to grow their businesses and make more money. Other coaches may focus on different things, such as expanding your team, boosting your sales, or helping you to exit your business. Finding a coach who specialises in the area you need help with is vital for a successful working relationship and the results you are after.

Search online

Once you know the sort of specialism you’re looking for, it’s time to begin your hunt to find a business coach to best fit your needs. As with most things in this day and age, your first port of call is likely to be the internet. Have a browse and see what you can find. Search for common terms such as ‘business coach,’ ‘executive coach,’ ‘career coach,’ ‘business mentor,’ and so on. You can use your current location or not, it’s up to you (more on this later!). Doing an online search to start will give you a better idea of who is out there, what they do, and who may be a good fit for you. But, bear in mind that just because a coach shows up in first place on your Google search, doesn’t always mean they are the best coach out there! They just may have more budget to spend on advertising and marketing. At the end of the day, it’s all about who is best for your needs, and not who is the most popular.

Reach out to your network

Another good way to find a business coach is by recommendation from people you know. After all, if a coach comes personally recommended, you can probably be assured that they are genuinely good. You can start by asking family and friends but, unless they own their own businesses too, you may struggle to get the leads you need from this. So, now is the time to utilise your wider network of contacts. Take to LinkedIn, or ask other entrepreneurs you know in real life. Have they used a business coach before? Would they recommend their experience? Bear in mind that, just because a coach comes recommended, doesn’t mean that they will be the right fit for you, but it is certainly a good place to start if you’re serious about finding a business coach.

Look for reviews and referrals

The next step in your quest to find a business coach should be to take a closer look into their reviews. A good coach should have reviews that are easy to find, and they should be positive overall. This should help you to narrow down your search only to coaches that come highly recommended by a variety of people. Can’t find their reviews? Check their website, social media profiles, Google My Business, Trustpilot, and Facebook reviews!

You don’t always have to commit yourself to location

When searching for a coach, many people believe that they have to commit to finding one who is in their local vicinity. Of course, it can certainly be helpful to have your coach close by so that you can regularly meet up face-to-face. And, some coaches choose not to work with clients who are not local. But, the world is changing. The capacity available to do things virtually is getting greater by the day! So, don’t feel as though it’s a must to find a local coach. If the right coach for you isn’t nearby, and they do offer virtual coaching services, then this may actually work out better for both you and your business! Plus, it widens your search area, thus increasing your chances of finding that perfect coach.

How to make sure a business coach is right for you

So, you’ve narrowed your search down and have a particular coach or two in mind. What steps do you need to take now to ensure that they are right for you, before you make the investment of taking on their services? Here are a few things that you should follow:

Actually speak to them before you commit

It’s incredibly easy to speak with a potential coach over email to sort out all the details of your working relationship. While this is certainly convenient, I would always recommend speaking with your coach properly before you commit to working with them. This could be face to face, or over a video call if that’s not possible. It’s always good to put a face to a name, and it ensures that you gel well with them and can actually see yourself having a successful partnership to the benefit of your business. Any good coach should be willing to speak to you in this way without a charge, as they should want the relationship to be the right fit just as much as you do!

Ensure that they are open and honest with you

If you want to find a business coach, it’s completely vital that they are upfront and honest with you from the very beginning. After all, you don’t want a coach who is afraid to tell you the truth as this probably won’t have many benefits for your business! So, you want a coach who is upfront about whether they think your partnership would be a successful one. A coach who takes on clients just for the sake of it, even if they are not a good fit, is probably not one that you want to work with.

Is their style of coaching right for you?

Alongside different specialisms, different business coaches will also have distinct styles of coaching. You need to pick a style that you think would work well for you in order to get the most out of your coaching experience. Not sure which style is right for you? Many coaches also use a blend of different styles, which doesn’t make this process any easier! So, I would recommend asking potential coaches what styles they use, and if they can break down their methods a little further for you, in order to help you make the best decision.

Are you a good fit?

Ultimately, you need to find a business coach who is a good fit for you on a number of levels. Their specialism and styles need to be what you’re looking for, but you also need to get along with them on a personal level if you want to have a successful experience! There’s no point working with a coach who you don’t like as a person. You will just end up frustrated at the experience and regret not picking a coach you work better with. At the end of the day, only you can decide on the best coach for you, both personally and professionally. My advice? Go with your gut! If you have a good or bad feeling about a coach, it’s probably right, so don’t be afraid to trust yourself. This is a big decision, after all.

Final thoughts on how to find a business coach

Finding the perfect business coach can be a long process, but it’s important to get it right if you want to build your business in the best way possible. Overall, I would recommend following the steps and advice set out above. But, don’t be too influenced by other people’s opinions. You know your business best, so only you can make the right decision. Once you have found the coach that’s right for you, the real progress can begin, and you can look forward to a business that develops in the way you want it to!

As a business coach, I work with my clients to help them make more money and reach their business goals. I know that, at the end of the day, you can have all sorts of ambitions for your business, but your ultimate aim is to make that profit! I use my proven methods to help you do that. So, if that sounds like the type of coach you would be interested in working with, please get in touch today by emailing graham@grahamgarman.com.