One person whose views I always turn to for great insight and advice – is Bill Bacharach of Bacharach and Associates.
Recently I read this article by Bacharach on how to choose a coach. While the article is geared for the financial advisor industry, it has terrific advice to help anyone choose a coach.
I particularly like these questions:
- Can the people at this company really get you where they promise to?
- While you should see some tangible and measurable results in the first month or two, remember there is no “silver bullet.”
- Are you ready for serious coaching? (This question particularly resonates. Often at the start of a workshop I’ll say, ‘I can help you improve if you choose to change, and I can’t if you don’t – and it is a choice’. At times, I can tell through body language and vocal cues that a person has NOT chosen to change. Cues of a person resisting change include, sitting back in their chair, dull eyes, legs extended in front of them.
- Is there real accountability to implement?
- Is expensive better?
Own the Conversation
After reading the article, let me suggest that you:
- Reflect on what points resonated with you.
- Store this article where you can easily find it for the next time you’re considering engaging a coach.
- If you already have a coach – benchmark the person agains the points in the article.
p.s. Below is a message from a top performer I know, Michael Field.
Why Invest in Market Research? – by Michael Field, EvettField Partners
A common mistake made by many business owners and leaders is allocating 100% of their marketing budget to ‘marketing tactics’. There is often a reluctance to invest in market research, competitive analysis, customer research, segmentation, value proposition development, key messages etc. The temptation is to jump ‘straight to task’.
Although immediate action feels satisfying – even exciting – jumping ‘straight to task’ is likely to be wasting budget in the wrong channels, delivering the wrong message to the wrong customers. A common misconception is that the business owner or leader already knows everything they need to know about their market, as they have been working in the industry for years.
Not to underestimate the enormous wealth and value of ‘sunken knowledge’, however just because you work in a particular market, does not mean you know everything there is to know about that market, competitors, customers and buyer behaviour.
In fact, the longer you have been in the market, the less objective your experience and insights. Your experience in the market is not the market. Your experience in the market is simply the market giving you feedback on your current value proposition.
Change your strategy and you change the market – or at least your experience of the market.
Want to know more? www.evettfield.com