STOP HIRING THE WRONG CONSULTANTS!
{What to Know Before You Hire Your Next Coach}
What to Know Before You Hire Your Next Coach
Article by Toya Styles
Magazine: Issue #16
I know what the title has you thinking; “But Isn’t Toya a consultant?” Yes, yes I am. But this article is about choosing the right consultant for your business. Now I believe that every entrepreneur should have a coach.
Personally, I have hired three different consultants for my business. One thing I learned quickly with my first consultant was setting expectations. Looking back, I would have had a much better experience if I had known what I wanted out of their services and what I expected to gain. A business coach is just going to tell you what they personally know about the game. For instance your coach may be the foremost authority in the world of Facebook, but if your clientele isn't on Facebook then what’s the point? You just wasted a ton of money and it is no one’s fault but your own.
Are you looking for business development? Are you looking to learn a new skill? Do you want to grow your small business? These are the questions you need to ask yourself because your answers will lead you to different types of consultants, one of which will be the right one for you.
Be careful not to get caught up in the excitement of a certain coach if you are not ready. Good coaches are successful, energetic and they are encouragers! You can easily be swayed by that alone. For example, during my rebranding process I “cyber stalked” 4 different business coaches. This time, I needed business development, so that is what I was focused on. I finally settled on a business coach that was perfect for me and where I was in my process. But there was another coach that I seriously considered hiring and realized I wasn’t ready for her. She focuses on increasing and building upon what you already have but, at the time, I needed more foundational help. I was transitioning from fashion styling full time to helping CEOs who need help with networking skills and social media strategy (which I didn’t know at the time). If I had hired her I would not have the incredible business I have now that is laser focused in on what I love and have been doing, unknowingly, for years!
I am a firm believer that you should invest not only in yourself but in your business growth. If you are not investing in yourself then how are you expecting to grow? (Did I mention it’s tax deductible?)
So, I leave you with this thought. Take the time to know what YOU need as a business owner for your business. Don’t just jump on the next coaching bandwagon, do what makes sense for your business.
