The good news is that while business coaching offers those who need to decide and act the sounding board they need on a daily basis, it also enables them to develop essential new skills.
A business coach can be an invaluable tool to help a leader achieve his or her goals, improve skills and impact on the organization, and meet the challenges of the business world.
However, it’s important to understand the limits of business coaching, and what expectations are realistic (or not).
Yes, as we often explain, the business coach typically acts as a sounding board for decision-makers and their teams. But there are certain limits that must be respected, for the good of both client and coach!
In this article, we talk about seven things a business coach won’t do in your working relationship. We’ll also look at why these limits can actually be beneficial for the client (yes!). And we’ll explain how a clear understanding of the respective roles of coach and client can lead to more than positive results.
Shall we get started? Let’s get started.
1. A coach won’t solve your problems for you
The first key point is that a business coach won’t solve your problems for you. And they won’t make decisions for you either.
The role of the professional business coach is to guide his client through the problem-solving process, helping him to clarify his objectives, identify obstacles and draw up action plans to overcome them.
He is there to provide support, guidance and tools. He is also perfectly available to support strategic thinking, work with a board of directors, help define a strategic vision for the company, or facilitate the work of defining precise objectives that can be implemented by teams.
Monitoring the implementation of action plans is also part of its remit, as is helping managers to define their leadership style and management method.
But… it’s up to the customer to do the thinking (and make things happen!) in their own conscience.
The client must take responsibility for his or her own development and be willing to invest time and effort in the business coaching process. The development of responsibility and commitment on the part of the client is a key element of the process, otherwise what’s the point of hiring a coach?
2. A coach won’t give you ready-made answers
The second point to consider is that a business coach won’t give you ready-made answers.
One of the aims of business coaching is to help executives (entrepreneurs as well as top leaders and managers) develop skills and critical thinking, so that they can find their own solutions.
In fact, the coach must focus on working with the client – not for them – to identify key issues and problems, and then solve them together, to be able to decide in the face of uncertainty and take only calculated risks.
Put another way? The business coach is a strategic ally who acts as a sounding board and should therefore be used intelligently!
The risks of ready-made answers
If the coach were to provide ready-made answers, this would have several negative consequences.
Firstly, it would limit the client’s ability to think independently and solve future problems. Quite a shame! You’re in charge, not us!
What’s more, it could reinforce an unhealthy dependency of managers on their coach, rather than developing the client’s ability to take charge of his or her own personal development.
The benefits of a collaborative approach
In contrast, a collaborative approach in which the coach works with the client to identify solutions is far more beneficial.
This approach encourages the client to think independently, learn from their mistakes and develop their skills while stepping out of their comfort zone.
It also enables the coach to better understand the client’s needs and perspectives, which can lead to more creative and appropriate solutions.
3. A coach won’t give you all the answers
Speaking of answers – a third point to consider is that the business coach won’t give his client all the answers either.
Instead, he or she will use a questioning approach to help the person in charge develop their own conclusions and gain greater autonomy.
For example, the business coach’s role will never be to provide you with a ready-made business plan, but to make you think about all the elements that make up a sensible business plan – the strategic decisions that concern your company must remain yours!
This approach is fundamental, as it encourages the customer to think more deeply and make more informed decisions. Quite logical, don’t you think?
4. A coach won’t force you to change
The fourth point to insist on in our list of what a business coach won’t do is that the coach will not force the client to change.
The business coach is there to help his client explore different options and make informed decisions, but he’s not supposed to push his client to change drastically.
On the contrary, it’s up to the client to decide whether or not he wants to change (behavior, attitude, mindset, route…), and it’s also up to him to assume the consequences of his decisions to evolve or not.
5. A coach won’t tell you what you want to hear
The fifth point to consider is that a business coach won’t necessarily tell you what you want to hear.
On the one hand, because of his role, the coach will often be able to see trends emerging, which he will be able to analyze more quickly than the manager. He will then be able to raise the issues and warn his client, but in doing so he will often provoke new ideas that could potentially upset the client.
On the other hand, the coach will sometimes also be called upon to act as a mirror, reflecting a perception of what his client is telling him. If the customer is not expressing his message correctly, or if his behavior is the source of a problem, then the coach’s role will be to confront him with his own contradictions – not always easy to hear!
Put differently, the coach’s role is to provide constructive and honest feedback to help the client improve – if you’re only looking for confirmation and approval, you’re likely to be disappointed!
That said, constructive feedback can be hard to hear, but it can also be very beneficial for personal and professional development. Among other things, it enables the customer to become aware of his or her strengths and weaknesses, and to work on areas that need improvement – that’s when the real fun begins!
6. A business coach won’t do your therapy
The sixth key point is that a business coach is not a therapist. Although coaching can have therapeutic aspects, the coach should not be seen as a substitute for professional therapy.
What difference between coaching and therapy?
Coaching focuses on professional development and the improvement of personal skills and performance, while therapy concentrates on emotional healing and the resolution of psychological problems.
It is therefore extremely important to differentiate between the two approaches and to seek the appropriate professional help according to one’s needs.
7. A business coach won’t play the role of friend either
It’s important to understand that, in a professional relationship, the business coach is not a friend.
Although the relationship between coach and client is based on trust, confidentiality and empathy, and may take the form of a weekly round of golf backed with a large amount of trust, it remains first and foremost a professional relationship.
The professional coach is there to help his client achieve his objectives, develop his skills, improve his impact on the organization, and turn his teams into a valuable asset.
Confusing the roles of coach and friend can lead to problems such as unrealistic expectations, conflicts of interest and a loss of professionalism.
The business coach is a guide and facilitator, but no more! It’s important to maintain a clear boundary between the professional relationship with the coach and personal relationships with friends or family.
Conclusion: trust your business coach!
In conclusion, it’s important to understand the limits of a business coach.
The coach is not your friend, he won’t solve your problems for you, he won’t give you all the answers, he won’t force you to change, he won’t be your therapist, he won’t tell you what you want to hear, and he won’t do the work for you.
However, these limits can be beneficial to you and your business, as they encourage the development of autonomy, reflection, and responsibility.
By understanding the respective roles of coach and client and working together in a climate of trust and respect, business coaching can be a powerful tool to help leaders achieve their goals and improve their impact on the organization.
Only one question remains: what’s your next step? We’re used to it – book your business coach online now!
