Business Coach Training – 7 Traits Business Coaches Need To Succeed

If you’re thinking seriously about business coaching, there are 7 traits that will help you build a successful coaching business.

If you’ve been around coaches for a while, you’ve probably been told that coaching and consulting are different animals and that the job of the coach is to ask powerful questions and get the client to come up with their own answers.

When it comes to business coaching…that’s a bunch of baloney.

To be sure, powerful questions and helping clients change their thinking will be an important part of what you do but as a general rule…business coaches are hired by the CEO or top level managers to help solve business problems.

And these problems are usually related to sales, profit, and personnel.

Here are the top 7 traits it takes to be a great business coach. Take a few minutes and rate yourself on each of them using a scale of 1 to 10 (1 means you’re weak in this area).

Top 7 Traits of Great Business Coaches

  • Business coaches are analytical, and love solving problems – To be a great business coach, you need to have an overall understanding of business strategy and tactics. You also need to understand areas like management, leadership, marketing, sales, promotion, marketing research etc. This usually means you need to have a solid background in business yourself.
  • Business coaches are results-focused – As a business coach you’ll be helping clients produce results in their businesses. You’ll need to help them get more clients, sell more, keep employees longer…whatever the case may be. This is different from life coaching where the focus is mostly on helping the client grow personally.
  • Business coaches are thick-skinned, and don’t take things personally – Even more than life coaches, business coaches need to be thick skinned and to learn to not take things personally. When it comes to success in business, egos (and tempers) can run high and you need to be able to handle it.
  • Business coaches have a head for business – unlike life coaches, if you’re interested in going into business coaching you need to have enough of a background in business to be able to understand the core concerns of your clients. You’ll need to understand what motivates them (sales, profit, and growth) and to speak their language.
  • Business coaches are good networkers – Most business is still done through personal relationships. If you’re interested in building a strong business coaching practice, you’ll need to learn how to network with relevant organizations, associations, clients, etc.
  • Business coaches have a high awareness of ethics – There are two reasons for this. One, you need to know your own boundaries and when to walk away from a client who doesn’t share your values. Two, business leaders may not have the best natural moral center of gravity and won’t know where to draw the line. You need to be able to advise them and make sure they’re making the right decisions for their organization.
  • Business coaches are confident in the business setting - This goes back to trait #4. If you have solid experience and have developed a good head for business, you’ll be confident working with C-Level clients and be able to speak their language. Business leaders and owners are typically strong individuals, and value and respect strength in others. To work effectively with them, you’ll need to be confident yourself and what you bring to the table.

    • As you read through the list, how did you do? How many “1″s did you give yourself? How many “10″s?

    Tell the truth here.

    If business coaching or becoming a business coach really is for you, then start thinking about the kinds of problems you want to solve. Do you want to help businesses improve their management? Leadership? Communication? Marketing? Sales?

    Get clear on your areas of focus and begin taking your friends and colleagues out for breakfast or lunch to let them know what you’re up to and get their feedback. You’ll probably get some business just by doing that. Join the professional associations for your area and get to know other professionals in the field. Learn to network and take advantage of these new contacts!

    If you choose the right area and do the right things to market your business, you’ll be surprised at just how quickly you’ll start to build your business.

    Lawrence Mortenson is a no-nonsense speaker, trainer, consultant, and coach. He helps executives, business owners, coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs grow profitable businesses through smart strategy, good management, and solid marketing.

    Learn about Lawrence’s book for beginning coaches The Truth About the Business of Coaching (Tao of Business Press) or visit his website at http://www.lawrencemortenson.com

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Mortenson

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    The Center for Executive Coaching is an approved International Coach Federation (ICF) coach training program provider. They offer a total package for executive coaches seeking success in the market. This package includes a process, structure, and content to become an outstanding coach and get results along with a proven marketing system for authentic, educational-based business development. Distance learning and payment plans available.

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