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When you’re in the early stages of launching your business, you may not be thinking about hiring a business coach. It’s a decent investment, and many people believe it’s best to work on their business alone for some time before taking the plunge.
But, if you’ve had your business for a little while and are struggling to make progress, there are a few telltale signs that it might be time to hire a business coach. (Including what I just mentioned –– not making enough progress!)
While business coaches help their clients with different things and have varying approaches, I will speak to this from my perspective and consider what I offer my clients. I’m also referring to private coaching versus group programs –– group programs are a good starting place but typically don’t offer the same level of support you can find working with a coach one-on-one.
Here are four common signs that it may be time to consider working with a business coach:si
1. You’re feeling overwhelmed and not very focused.
You’ve tried to launch your business on your own and have had a few starts and stops, but each time you come back to your business, you don’t have a clear plan, so you waste time on things that don’t move the needle and procrastinate because you don’t have a clear focus.
Maybe you’ve tried promoting your business but have only gotten little success or none at all. You post on social media, and whatever engagement you get doesn’t turn into clients. Or you feel scattered, having tried several marketing strategies and feeling frustrated when they don’t work the way you hoped.
A business coach can help you clarify how you want to market yourself and develop a solid marketing plan, so you know exactly what strategies to focus on and can drop all the things you’re doing that aren’t necessary. That will save you time, energy, and frustration in the long run.
When I work with women, I first help them clarify their vision for what they’re trying to build; then, we create a marketing plan aligned to their personality and strengths so they actually show up and get the results they’re looking for.
2. You lack confidence in yourself and your new identity as an entrepreneur.
When you launch a business, you may not realize you’re also building a new identity. And that new identity can bring up a lot of fear, doubt, and uncertainty because it’s a new version of you that doesn’t always fit into the rules and beliefs you’ve created over time.
If you’re struggling with your mindset and dealing with things like imposter syndrome, fear of failure, self-doubt, procrastination, etc., working with a coach will help you break down the limiting beliefs you’re holding onto to move forward and reach your goals. These limiting beliefs, or old ways of thinking, can be the reason you succeed or fail in your business.
For example, my last client came to me because she felt uncomfortable working with others. We worked on her mindset, and I gave her some small steps to take. By the end of our time together, she felt a lot more confident in her ability to coach people, and as a result, she signed her first client.
3. You’ve tried to launch or grow your business on your own, but you're not getting anywhere.
If you’ve spent a reasonable amount of time (at least a few months) working on your marketing and promoting your business, but you’re still not getting the results you want, it’s probably time to think about getting support.
Many new business owners believe they can do everything on their own. While this is definitely an option, it usually takes much longer to reach your goals than if you have someone in your corner keeping you accountable, helping you brainstorm ideas, and helping you find direction.
If your coach has expertise in a particular area (like marketing), they can provide honest feedback so that you don’t waste time on things that won’t work. And they can help you clarify your message and build out your offer, which helps you attract more clients than if you keep things more general.
Want help building a marketing plan for your business? Check out my LAUNCH WITH EASE program for new entrepreneurs. We work together to help you get clear on what you want to build, I guide you in creating your own custom marketing plan, and I help you break down any mindset issues standing in your way.
4. You want to fast-track your success.
Sure, you can absolutely launch and grow your business on your own, but it will take a lot of time to learn all the necessary skills, try out different marketing strategies, and build your confidence as a new business owner.
By working with a coach, you can bypass a lot of this extra time and energy and do what is already proven to work. While there are no shortcuts when it comes to building a business, you can be smart about the things you try so you don’t waste time.
I’ve also found that the people who invest in themselves early on are much more likely to be successful and not give up on their business.
All in all, I believe that working with a business coach is a solid investment. I’m a bit biased, but I’ve also had the privilege of working with some amazing coaches who have helped me get more clarity on my niche, build my confidence and attract clients of my own. So, I know that the investments I’ve made in myself and my business have been worth it. And I’ve seen what my coaching has done for others.
When you’re looking for a coach, I would advise you to spend the time researching their process to know that it’s aligned with what you want and talk to a few coaches to see who would be the best fit for you.
Ready to take the next step in your business?
Click here to book a free consultation call, where we’ll talk about what you’re trying to build in your business and see if it would make sense to work together.
