Q. How effective is business coaching?

A. There are many similarities between business and sport.

Both can be extremely rewarding and often extremely frustrating. Both require hard work to be successful because it would be fair to say that talent alone is not enough in either. And there are many others that come easily to mind.

There are, though, a few differences too. One that readily springs to mind is the attitude towards coaches.

I think most people would agree that to become successful at high level sport and remain so, a good coach is an absolute necessity.

It’s hard to think of more than one or two professional sports people who don’t have a coach, and even fewer who decided they no longer needed one once they became successful.

Why then are small businesses so reluctant to utilise coaches?

Research tells us that 67 per cent of small businesses survive more than twice as long by using the services of a good business coach.

So it isn’t a sparsity of evidence proving the benefits.

Maybe it’s an issue of cost or an alpha-male type mentality where seeking help is seen as weakness?

Or even that very British perspective of ‘having a mate down the pub’ who can help.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to keep one thing in mind: there are very few small business people who know all there is to know about running a business.

And that often includes how to grow the business and improve its profitability.

Finding the right business coach who can support your own specific challenges and tailor their approach to your situation could just prove to be the decision that helps to put your business on the medal podium.

For more information go to www.ethicalbusinessmentoring.co.uk or ring 07496 833803