Better Business Coaching

Business Coaching for Small Businesses and SME’s

People who initially set up small businesses don’t necessarily have the skills to manage larger businesses and the growing number of people they need to employ.  It’s also unlikely that they can be away from work for extended periods of time for development activities.

In this situation business coaching can offer targeted, timely development of identified issues and areas that can be fitted into the individual’s busy schedule.

Often senior managers or executives being groomed for leadership roles may be hesitant to attend training courses, as they may feel they already have the skills, expertise, and so on.  In this situation business coaching can be a suitable intervention as it is a confidential, personal and ‘safe’ development option where the individual is using an objective, external person to help them with their business development.

In the current economic climate where there is the need for major organisational change, business coaching can assist in changing the significant shifts in the behaviour and attitude of some employees in order to fit in with a new structure or culture.  It may be that individuals who are moving to a new job require different skills and abilities.  Business coaching can help individuals make these necessary changes.

Coaching is also beneficial in supporting expatriates who have to adjust to a new culture and country.  Often these people will have very specific requirements and they need immediate support as issues
arise.

Examples of business development needs when business coaching may be an appropriate solution:

Developing a more strategic perspective
As managers who for the first time find themselves in an executive position, assistance is often needed in gaining a more strategic perspective.  This involves taking decisions based on the best interest of the business as a whole, rather than an isolated area of the business.  Business coaches can help the new executive to become more sensitive to the business concerns and understand opportunities and problems that occur across the business.

Develop new skills
In a growing business the executive many be required to develop new skills very quickly.  An example is when an individual may need to move into a more customer-facing or business development role.

Poor interpersonal skills
New business owners may have previously been highly competent, technical experts who possibly had interpersonal skills that made them appear arrogant or stubborn to those they worked with.  They now find themselves in a role that requires diplomacy and the ability to ‘read’ interpersonal situations and be more effective in their interactions.

Conflict management skills
In some cases, managers may handle conflict situations in an aggressive and non –compromising way that antagonises their employees.  This may be quite intimidating to team members.  Coaching can help develop the skills of negotiation and compromise so that conflict is resolved more effectively.

For small businesses, coaching can deliver long-term performance improvements in individuals’ performance.  That is, future performance will greatly exceed current performance, which can be translated into business benefits.

For effective business coaching that suits your business needs, contact Carole Davidson Coaching.