By Valrie Grant
Managing Director, GeoTechVision
Athletes have long relied on their coaches. Good coaches help their athletes improve their skills – particularly in the weaker areas, exploit their strengths, develop strong characters, and build confidence in their ability perform optimally.
Like a good sports team, businesses need a seasoned coach to help focus business goals and develop the drive to be steadfast in navigating and overcoming the inevitable challenges of running and growing a business.
Coaching helps entrepreneurs identify and overcome challenges, plan strategically, create jobs, contribute to national development and overall improve the economics of entrepreneurship. I have personally experienced the benefits of having a business coach.
Even a highly self-motivated entrepreneur sometimes gets stuck – entrepreneurship can be a very lonely road at times – and in those situations will need an outside push to get going again. A coach provides that additional drive, even if it is just a confirmation that what you are thinking of doing makes sense. Coaches also provide the needed support and encouragement and usually at just the right time. A business coach will always challenge you to try new things and to increase not only your creativity but the returns on your efforts.
A good coach is able to identify and exploit your strengths while bolstering your weaknesses. A seasoned coach knows how to get you to think bigger, run faster, jump higher and set audacious goals to which you are held accountable. It is always good to have someone who holds you accountable. Often, a person may decide that he or she is going to stick to an exercise programme. But, even with the best intentions can still fail at doing so. Add a personal trainer or a coach who focuses the person on his/her goals, and more than
