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Choosing a Coach

Written by: Liz Bywater

Article Overview: Now more than ever, savvy business owners, managers, and senior executives are discovering the benefits of working with a coach. Whether top performers looking to accelerate their progress, entrepreneurs navigating the rugged terrain of self-employment, or new managers learning the interpersonal complexities of their work, smart business people are reaching the same conclusion. Mentoring fuels success.

Choosing a Coach

Now more than ever, savvy business owners, managers, and senior executives are discovering the benefits of working with a coach. Whether top performers looking to accelerate their progress, entrepreneurs navigating the rugged terrain of self-employment, or new managers learning the interpersonal complexities of their work, smart business people are reaching the same conclusion. Mentoring fuels success.

Call it coaching or call it mentoring.

Either way, it’s a process that helps you better know yourself, deal more effectively with others, and become your own best advocate. Here are a few of the outcomes you can expect:

• Improved workplace communication skills.

• Better, more effective strategies for working with customers, clients, peers, supervisors, and direct reports.

• A view of yourself as others see you – so that you can build upon your strengths and minimize areas of weakness.

• Greater satisfaction from work.

• Improved balance between work and home life.

• Discovery of untapped skills and talents – so you can make full use of them.

• Better business and career path decisions.

• Accelerated leadership skills development.

No two mentors are alike. Choose wisely.

It’s a wise move to invest in a coach or mentor. Finding a coach is easy; finding one with the skills, background, and personality that’s right for you is another matter. At a minimum, expect the following qualifications:

• Able to quickly establish rapport and develop a trusting, positive relationship.

• An effective communicator.

• Unafraid to confront you with constructive feedback.

• Both approachable and available.

• Has a sophisticated understanding of people and relationships.

• Respects the sensitive and confidential nature of the coaching relationship.

It's a fact. With the right feedback and guidance, there's no limit to the level of success you can achieve.

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Re: Business Coaching Resources - You're fortunate when you can find a Business Coach who has experience beyond where you've been and even where you are going. When your budget is slim and even after, it's good to have a mentor. Several of various backgrounds are very useful. They can be teachers, professors, pastors, business people, family members, bosses and former bosses. You have to be clear on what you want and what you desire to achieve, be able to convey it as simply as possible. Stop and listen and don't over tax their time. You should always expect results whether from a Business Coach or Mentors. If you're not gtting results, you're either not focused or you need to upgrade the quality of your mentors/coaches. Always surround yourself by people smarter than you.
Post subject: Too successful for a mate? - That was an interesting article, Shri! Most of the women I know who continue to be single have some type of self limiting behavior which interferes with them either meeting or attracting the perfect mate for them. They are incredible and talented women, they just haven't set themselves up for relationship success. I know there are men who may be intimidated, but there are also men who aren't. Some men are attracted to smart women! My advice to these women would be to focus on creating the right environment for a relationship to happen. This would be a great time to hire a Life Coach or Relationship Coach. Taking action to get ready for a relationship doesn't mean having to be aggressive in finding a man. It's more subtle. If you don't make room for a man in your life, you might just squeeze out the opportunity before he gets to you. As well, you may be sending off all the wrong signals without realizing it. Seriously, I don't think successful women are off the proverbial "good wife material list". However, if you think yourself off of it then don't be surprised if you fulfill your own prophecy.
Re: Want to be a published author? - Thanks for sharing some options out there for us, Ladies! I'm one of those people who have a number of books in the works, but haven't quite finished them yet... I think I need to bring this up with my own Coach, but that's another story! *LOL* Anyhow, it's nice to know what I can do about it all when I'm ready. Shri, I'll keep you in mind when the time comes! Thanks again, Tami
Re: How To Succeed With Search - At this point, I lean towards "organic" search engine optimization. Last fall, I stretched my advertising budget and purchased a plan to put my website on the top of 15 search engines for the key phrase, "Life Coach". The only catch was that the person must have downloaded a specific popular tool bar on their computer in order to access it (several million had). The company was able to prove to me that close to a 1,000 people per month had seen the actual top part of my website open on their tool bar. They captured the IP addresses to prove it. Just previous to that, I had undergone some search engine optimization using key words and removing my heavy graphic intro page. Not long after I made the purchase for the tool bar advertising, the search engines had crawled through my updates and I was suddenly number one on Yahoo and number one on Google for Women's Entrepreneur Coach. Other key word variations were high enough to be in the top ten. I did notice that these results would shift rapidly and I was required to keep my website updated. Right now, I've been attempting to target Women in Business and Leadership. I've got a bunch of changes to do to get back up where I want to be, but now I know how to do it. Anyhow, as I watched the results of my paid advertising, I realized the organic method drove far more traffic to my website. I submit articles and post on Forums so some of those factored into the "organic" search engine equation. However, even without those, very few of the tool bar advertising ever clicked to see more of my website. I plan to stick with the "organic" method.
Greetings From Destiny's Door - Hi Everyone, Thanks for the invitation to introduce myself. I'm looking forward to being part of the discussions here. I called my business "Destiny’s Door Coaching" because I believe you already have everything it takes to create the business of your dreams. The door to your destiny stands always open. The choice is up to you. I work with Business Women and Entrepreneurs who want to create a life and business that matches their true potential, while still allowing them time to do the things they love most. I support them as they discover how to work smarter and not harder. I coach because I am passionate about seeing women achieve amazing things when they fully accept their own greatness. Business really gives women a great opportunity to express their passions and purpose in a way that also brings financial rewards. I believe you are highly important as the foundation of your business. As you grow and unleash your true potential, you enable your business to do the same. In fact, I'm doing that personally through my own business. I coach women and write articles inviting women to step into greater personal success. As a Certified Life Coach with a Degree in ministry, this is a perfect fit for me. On a personal level, I believe in living fully alive and making the most of every moment. I even have my own Coach! Of course, life is always a work in progress, but I keep moving forward. I do this happily in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of B.C. with my husband and two feline companions. Anyhow, I look forward to meeting you through the forum where we can challenge and inspire each other to really grow towards our full potential. Let’s really commit to creating the businesses of our dreams. I’ll meet you at Destiny’s Door! Warmly, Tami


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