You’re probably here because someone told you that you should have a business coach & you’re wondering what it’s all about?
So, you googled ‘business coaching session NZ’ and found yourself here… If so, welcome to my article; I hope you enjoy it!
My name is Debra & for 35 years, I have been running businesses around the world. For the last 18 I have also been doing business coaching & leadership coaching, at The Icehouse, in my own business, Business Action, for EOS worldwide & for several Incubators around the world.
I have training & qualifications in both, as well as being a seasoned business owner & an accredited family business advisor, so hopefully, I know what I am talking about
These days I’m an EOS Implementer, a type of business coach, so I’ll address that too.
So, what is business coaching & what goes on in a business coaching session, especially in NZ?
Well, there are many different types of coaching & it also varies by country, so let me tell you about my experiences in Australia, New Zealand & the US.
In the true sense of the word, a Business Coach is someone who is there to help you, as a Business Owner, to arrive at the answers yourself by asking the right questions. We do this through being taught how to coach, whereas a Business Mentor will do it through their experiences.
However, some Mentors, who have not trained as coaches, will be more comfortable sharing their experiences & telling you what to do based on their experiences, which is more like business consulting than business coaching.
And some business coaches also have experience, so they can share this as a Mentor also.
That said, not all Business Coaches have had experience running a business, or some have had experience in big businesses or Corporate but don’t know what it’s like to run an owner-managed or mid-sized business.
And that’s one of the differences between a traditional business coach and an EOS Implementer. To become an EOS Implementer, not only do you have to be a great coach, but you must also be a seasoned business owner (it’s part of the requirements) and also a teacher & a facilitator.
A leadership coach is also a facilitator & coach (& sometimes a teacher) & they tend to work with the whole leadership team rather than just the business owner. Still, their focus tends to be on leadership skills for individuals & teams rather than how the business runs. And some leadership coaches work with individuals in leadership roles, so there are many different types of coaches.
As an EOS Implementer, I work with the business owners & the leadership team to get them all clear on their Vision & develop a plan to achieve it. I also help them gain Traction by instilling discipline & accountability so that they execute that plan each day & I ensure they work together as a Healthy team for the greater good. Another subtle difference between traditional business coaches & leadership coaches.
But I digress; you’re here to know what goes on in a business coaching session, so let me explain what I have seen & experienced, both as a business coach myself & someone who has always had a business coach.
A session with a business coach is generally driven by you as the business owner or business leader. You typically have the answers, not us & we’ll work with you to help you find them.
You also set the agenda most of the time for your business coaching session. There will be a set agenda based on your plans for the business, but the ownership of the process sits with you. We’re here to help you get what you need, guided by what you bring to the table each business coaching session. What are the issues, challenges or opportunities facing you right now that will stop you from achieving your plan?
In my business coaching sessions, I would split the session time into quarters. The first quarter would be spent tracking your progress against the agreed actions. And then we’d talk about what might have prevented you from doing them. Or we’d celebrate success – which was my favorite part!
The next quarter would be spent coaching & mentoring, as required, to help you overcome the issues, challenges & opportunities that have come up since our last session. Or if you’re ahead on your plan, plan for what’s next.
Then it’s onto introducing models, templates & tools that can help you in your business & the challenges you are facing – I guess this is the teaching or education component.
Sometimes these were business-related, sometimes leadership related & sometimes mindset or personal issues that could use some help.
Finally, we’d finish up with setting the actions & plan for the next meeting.
And that would be a typical business coaching session in NZ.
I have had coaches from Australia, NZ & Canada & whilst their approach might be slightly different, the coaching sessions all follow a similar format.
As Business Coaches, we’re here to support you, guide you, act as your sounding board, challenge you to think bigger & be your cheerleader – that’s what we’re here for.
One thing we are definitely not consultants or business consultants. And any coach that is telling you what to do is not really a Business Coach. The role of the coach is not to tell you what to do – it’s to encourage you to come up with the answers yourself by asking the right questions.
It’s the same with being an EOS Implementer. I always say that I’m the dumb blonde at the front with the marker. That’s not to say that I don’t understand business or have experience – I’ve been running businesses since I was 13 years old, but what I do mean is that I am not here to tell you what to do – I am here to ask what are hopefully intelligent questions to help you get to the right answers.
I also believe that wisdom comes from bringing great minds together & as an EOS Implementer, I’m there as a coach for the whole team – encouraging them to work together for the greater good.
As an EOS Implementer, I am a business coach, a teacher & a facilitator to get the best from the team. I think that’s why I love what I do now, so much more than being a business coach.
The difference I can make to the business by working with the whole team on both a business & leadership level is phenomenal & that’s what makes my heart sing.
I am passionate about helping Entrepreneurs live their ideal lives, so if you’d like to find out what EOS can do for your business, then feel free to book a free session to chat – https://calendly.com/debra-chantry-taylor/eos-vth
