AS a business owner or business leader will you accept help? All our 2008 Olympic medallists achieved their success with help — sustained investment in coaching. All those companies which will survive and will actually thrive in this recession, will do so with help — sustained investment in business coaching.

So, will you accept help? Or will you go your own way?

For most enterprises, both commercial and non-profit, the recession presents a challenge of change, transition and leadership development. A recent survey by the Harvard Business Review (HBR) showed that the top three reasons coaches are engaged are:

1. Encourage and assist with the transition usually required in response to changing market conditions.

2. Develop the leadership potential of business leaders and owners.

3. Act as a sounding board in challenging times.

The HBR commentary which accompanied the survey included the observation that as the business environment becomes more complex (notwithstanding the current economic downturn), leaders will increasingly turn to coaches for help in understanding how to act. These coaches will be retired CEOs or other experts from universities, think tanks, and Government.

The survey also articulates the three most important credentials to seek when engaging a business coach:

65 per cent: Experience of coaching in a similar setting.

61 per cent: A clear methodology.

50 per cent: The quality of past clients.

The remaining five credentials, each of which scored 32 per cent or less, were (i) the ability to measure ROI, (ii) licensed in a proven coaching method, (iii) experience working in a similar role as the “coachee”, (iv) experience as a psychological therapist and (v) a background in executive search.

So, do you want to engage a consultant, a business coach or a therapist? Or will you go it alone?

For more information contact Peter Robinson on (01491) 641103.


Published on 05 January 2009