Page 12 - Demo

12 | September 2024 Slippery Rock Gazette
Training & EducaTion
You’ve spent the last 10 or 20 years building your business, so you know it inside and out, right? How can someone who has never been in your shop come in and tell you something about your business that you don’t already know? Why would you even consider spending money on that?
Owning and running a business can be a lonely endeavor. It often feels like you’re alone on an island, wrapped up in your own thoughts, making it tough to think clearly. Running a business requires a wide range of skills: vision, leadership, people manage- ment, organizational management, money management, sales, marketing, project man- agement, technology, and strategic planning, to name just a few. Excelling in all of these areas is challenging, and a few missteps can negatively impact your business and your quality of life.
A good coach can help you navigate the chaos and identify what to focus on first. They can serve as a sounding board for dif- ficult decisions. Should you let your most experienced operator go because he resists automation, or is there another option? Can you afford to hire another salesperson? A good coach can help you work through these dilemmas, assess the financial impact, and make sound decisions. Here are some other ways a coach can help your business.
The Ways a Business Coach Can Help
1. Strategic Planning and Goal Setting:
A business coach can help you set clear goals and develop plans to achieve them, breaking down long-term visions into man- ageable steps to keep you on track.
2. Accountability: A key benefit of a busi- ness coach is accountability. They ensure you follow through with your plans and commitments, driving performance and preventing procrastination.
Ed Young
Fabricator’s Coach
Justin Shaw
Stone Fabricator Elite
4.Skill Development: Coaches enhance your leadership and management skills, offering training in communication, nego- tiation, conflict resolution, and team building.
5. Problem Solving and Decision Making:
Coaches use their experience to guide you through challenges and develop solutions. They assist in critical business decisions with a structured approach to evaluating options and outcomes.
ing, and growth.
7.Proven Playbooks: Some coaches have proven playbooks for marketing, business development, and hiring. These playbooks provide shortcuts and help implement suc- cessful stress management, and energy optimization, often overlooked in business growth.
8.Mindset & High Performance: Some coaches can help to improve your “inner game,” focusing on mindset and perfor- mance. They enhance habits, time man- agement, and energy optimization, often overlooked in business growth.
What a Coach Can Do and What They Cannot Do
What a Coach Can Do:
•Provide Guidance: Offer advice based on their experience and knowledge.
• Offer Support: Act as a sounding board for ideas and concerns.
• Challenge Assumptions: Encourage you to think critically and consider different perspectives.
• Facilitate Growth: Help you develop plans and strategies for business growth.
• Enhance Skills: Provide training and resources to develop key business skills.
• Clarity and Confidence: Cut through the noise and avoid getting in your own way.
What a Coach Cannot Do:
•Run Your Business: They can provide guidance, but the execution of strategies and day-to-day operations is up to you.
• Make Decisions for You: A coach can offer advice and perspectives, but the final decisions must be yours.
• Guarantee Success: While a coach can significantly improve your chances of success, they cannot guarantee specific outcomes.
• Solve All Problems: They can guide you through problem-solving, but they can’t fix every issue single-handedly.
• Do the work for you: You have to do your own push-ups.
Advice on How to Select the Right Coach
1.Identify Your Needs: Identify the areas of your business needing the most support, such as strategic planning, mar- keting, leadership development, or finan- cial management, so you can find a coach with the right expertise.
2. Check Credentials and Experience:
Look for coaches with relevant qual- ifications, a strong track record, and
Why Do I Need a Business Coach?
experience in your industry. Check their references and client testimonials to gauge their effectiveness.
3.Assess Compatibility: Your coach should be trustworthy and a good fit for your learning style. Arrange a preliminary meeting to ensure compatibility.
4.Evaluate Their Approach: Ensure their coaching methods match your busi- ness philosophy. Inquire about their problem-solving, goal setting, and account- ability approaches.
5.Consider Their Network: A well-con- nected coach can offer additional value through their network of contacts and resources. Inquire about the potential net- working opportunities they can provide.
6. Discuss Availability and Commitment:
Ensure the coach’s availability matches your needs. Clarify how often you will meet, their availability for ad-hoc support, and their commitment to your business’s success.
Conclusion
A business coach can elevate your business by providing guidance, accountability, and fresh perspectives. Choosing the right coach, who understands your needs and aligns with your values, is crucial. With the right coach, you can unlock your business’s full potential and achieve success faster.
Justin Shaw has been helping stone fab- ricators and countertop companies since 2017 to implement systems, strategies, and playbooks to grow their businesses more easily. He also has a coaching program the “90-Day Growth Engine”, within this flagship program, Justin covers everything from strategy and new business develop- ment to marketing and the “inner game” with mindset and high-performance coach- ing. To learn more, visit: https://justinx- shaw.com/ and stonefabricatorelite.com/ .
This changing economy will gener- ate significant headwinds for many fab- ricators. If you need assistance planning for these challenges, reach out to a sea- soned business owner and coach at Ed@ FabricatorsCoach.com. You deserve to have a business that not only makes you money but also allows you time to enjoy it.
Resources: A well-connected coach can introduce you to valuable contacts, resources, and opportu- nities, opening doors to partnerships, fund-
6. Networking and
3. Expert
Insight and
Perspective:
Business coaches offer experience and an outsider’s perspective, identifying blind spots, providing fresh ideas, and giving feedback to help you make better decisions.