Better Business Coaching

How was your 2008?

Did it live up to your expectations?

Are you worried about 2009?

This will be a challenging year for everyone in business.

Remember however, that it is your passion, belief and aspirations for your business that will inspire your clients and retain their confidence to continue to do business with you.

You can hardly ignore the news stories and headlines about recession, depression, inflation, stagflation and various other financial and credit-crunching buzz words.

Although you may not be able to ignore them, you might also feel that there is little that you can do to change them either. It is the need for reminders that, whilst it is uncomfortable to be between a rock and a hard place, there is always something that we can do. We can examine and, if necessary, change our own attitudes, opinions and approaches as we consider actions that might alleviate uncomfortable situations.

An important component of coaching is to honour our talents, achievements, skills and capabilities and of course, those of our clients. These values provide firm foundational bedrocks regardless of fiscal factors, global politics and bad news days. Go ahead now, write or think of 5 things you are good at. Now be grateful for these things and for the new year where you can share this quick activity.

Business Planning for 2009

Follow your heart and do something different and make your dreams a reality.  Consider the following key words and write down your actions for 2009.

Business Clarity
Take time to finally decide exactly what you want. Write it down, tell your clients, colleagues and employees about it.  Make the commitment and go and get it!

Business Focus
If you are clear about what you want, focus on getting it.

Business Strategy
Make the plan and then re-visit the plan until you get there

Teamwork
Take your people with you, encouraging and coaching them.

Communicate
Communicate, communicate, communicate!  It’s a zoo out there, make sure you are communicating like a zookeeper.

Carole Davidson is a qualified business coach living in Dorset and working internationally with clients.