A Business Coach will make you work smarter, harder and faster. They’ll make you dream big, move with intention towards your goals and accomplish more than you ever felt possible.

“But Gemma, you are a Business Coach - of course you’re going to say that!”.

Yep, I hear you. But it comes from a place of knowing just how powerful good coaching is. I went from literally not having a business to earning more money than I did in my full-time job, working less hours. I wouldn’t be where I am without my coach.

I’ve also helped mums in business who have sat in inaction for years make simple tweaks to their practice and increase their income by doing less.

Could you get there on your own? Maybe! Can you get there faster with a coach? Definitely!

What is coaching?

Coaching is a process that aims to improve performance. It helps bridge the gap between where you currently are and where you would like to be, far more effectively that if you worked alone.

Often the biggest obstacles to success are internal rather than external (you know that pesky voice that doubts you at every turn). A coach will use powerful questions, tools and techniques to help you gain clarity, understand hidden obstacles that may be holding you back and uncover your own path to achieve your ambitions.

how does coaching differ from consulting and mentoring?

A consultant is an expert in their field and typically someone you hire to solve a specific problem. For example, a Social Media Consultant will thoroughly understand your industry and target market and will recommend and implement particular solutions to reach your desired outcome.

A mentor is typically someone who’s travelled the same path as you. They act as a trusted guide and adviser who can share their experience and help you avoid common pitfalls.

In reality, there’s a lot of overlap in the terms used and not a whole lot of consistency. However, I would expect anyone who badges themselves as a coach to understand the core philosophy behind coaching, which is to be a facilitator of learning, empowering the client to find their own answers.

10 reasons business coaching is so powerful

1. You’ll overcome your own limiting beliefs

You know that pesky voice that creep into your head and says, “I don’t know if I can do this” or “Other people are better at this than me”? Those thoughts can paralyse you and send you down a spiral of self-doubt. A coach will help you acknowledge those limiting beliefs and re-programme them into new positive, motivating beliefs.

2. You dedicate time to working ‘on’ your business, rather that ‘in’ your business

When you spend every day absorbed in your craft, it can be difficult to get perspective. A coach will help you step back and reflect on your business to ensure you’re moving towards your goals.

3. You’ll create a business in alignment with your values

I see so many mums start businesses so they can break free from the 9-5 prison. Then they end up working 7am-11pm on their business!  A coach will dig into your values and ensure you create a business which fits around your life, and not the other way around.

4. You’ll take more action then you’ve ever taken before 

A business coach will help you set goals and define the exact steps you need to take each week. You’ll wake up each morning knowing exactly which high-leverage tasks you need to complete, and it’s amazing how much putting down your hard-earned cash will kick you into action. 

5. You’ll develop the business skills you need to be successful

Depending on where you’re at, there’s certain foundational business skills you need to learn to be successful. A business coach will help you upgrade these skills. The most common areas I help my clients in are marketing, sales and productivity. 

6. You’ll step outside of your comfort zone. 

When you work on your business alone, it’s all too easy to stay safe. A Business Coach will help you break through limiting mindsets and achieve those big hairy goals and then keep reaching higher.

7. You’ll gain a trusted confidante 

When you chat to a friend or your partner about your business, they don’t always get it and sometimes start dishing out advice. A coach will hold space for you to work out the right solution for you and your business - only you know best. Better yet, your coach will be your biggest fan.

8. You’ll get results 

Ultimately, the success of your business is determined by the results you get. A coach will help you define your goals, break them down into smaller actions and identify hidden obstacles that could be holding you back.

9. You’ll avoid common pitfalls and time-consuming mistakes

As a mum in business, you don’t have time to get things wrong, make costly mistakes and start over. A coach will be there as a thought-partner and mentor to guide you in the right direction.

10. You make an invest in yourself

Investing in a Business Coach is an investment in yourself. You’ve literally bet money on yourself and your business - this will light a fire under your ass and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.

Before you go running to hire the first coach you can find, download my cheat sheet on 21 potential questions to ask a Business Coach, before you hire them.

what can a business coach help you with?

Each Business Coach will bring a different skillset to the table, and will typically have a programme and process they follow. For example, I help mums in service-based businesses find more clients by focusing on the following areas:

Messaging - I will help you clarify your niche, message and point of view so it resonates with your ideal client and makes you stand out. Better yet, we’ll align it with your story and your values, so you’re bursting at the seams to tell everyone!

Marketing - I will show you how to take your message to market, get traction, and create systems for your ideal client to come to you, so you’re never stressing about where your next client will come from again.

Sales - I’ll show you how to convey the value of what you provide and position yourself so it’s easy for people to say yes to you. I’ll teach you how to feel comfortable selling, and how to confidently handle objections.

Business Strategy + Productivity - I’ll show you how to achieve more in less time by adding strategy and time optimisation to everything you do so you can have the family lifestyle you really want.

Mindset - Your mindset is your reality. I’ll help you break through your limiting beliefs and achieve more than you ever thought possible.

Mastering these 5 areas will give you everything you need to succeed as an entrepreneur.

the art of finding a great business coach

Working with a great coach can catapult your business forward and help you reach your goals. When looking for a Business Coach to work with, you’ll want to ensure they have the right skillset. You’ll also want to ensure they motivate you.

Here’s 5 points to consider when looking for a good coach:

1. Training: A coaching qualification can be a good indication that a coach has completed in depth study. I spent a year completing my coaching qualification to make me the best possible coach and it’s definitely something which has developed my craft even further. However, some of the best coaches are not certified and I definitely wouldn’t let this be a barrier to hiring someone. Instead, find out what training and self-development they have completed.

2. Online Presence: Stalk your coach on social media - is their message consistent with what they say they help their clients achieve? Does their message resonate with you? Are they sharing high-quality content?

3. Chemistry: most coaches will offer a free session to let you get a feel of their style and whether you’d work well together. If you don’t come away from that first session feeling pumped and excited to reach your goals, keep looking around for a coach that gives you that buzz.

4. Referrals and testimonials - has your desired coach got reviews from previous clients? What results have their clients achieved? Have they coached people with similar backgrounds to you?

5. Cost - you can find a coach at pretty much every price point. If you invest in a coach who charges £70 an hour and does one-off sessions, don’t expect to see astounding results. If you’re spending £400+ a month, and your coach has a great track record, then it’s totally worth it and you’ll see the huge benefits.

Make sure you speak to your coach 1-1 BEFORE you hire them to get a feel for their style, programme and whether they’re the right person to help you. Download my cheatsheet on 21 potential questions to ask a Business Coach, before you hire them.

Coaching packages and costs

One-to-One Coaching

Most experienced coaches will offer you a 3-12 month coaching package, rather than charge by the hour. Prices vary enormously and are obviously dependent on length of engagement and structure. Expect to pay between £400/month and £2000/month.

Typically, you’ll meet with your coach 2-3 times a month via video call or phone call. If your coach is local, you might meet face to face.

As a guide, my first high-end coach cost £8000 for a 6 month partnership, meeting 3 times a month. This also included access to their online course and weekly mastermind calls. This was a stretch for me financially (!) , but was the best investment I’ve ever made.

Group Coaching

Group coaching brings together multiple clients who are typically working towards the same goal and is usually cheaper than one-to-one coaching.

You might do activities like hot seating where one member of the group is coached at a time or group reflections.

The benefit of group coaching is learning alongside your peers and having a strong sense of community as you all work towards your goals.

Is business coaching for you?

That depends on your answer to this question: on a scale of 1-10, how much of a priority is it to grow your business right now?

If you’re a 10, and you’re ready to take some serious action, a Business Coach will accelerate your progress and help you reach your goals. If you’ve sat in inaction because you feel totally overwhelmed and unsure of the right action to take, a coach will help you get clarity and move forward, quickly.

Curious to know more? Come stalk me on social media!

Join my free Facebook group, exclusively for mums in service-based businesses, to help you find more clients by perfecting your messaging, marketing and mindset.

If you’re ready to jump on a call with a Business Coach, download my cheat sheet on 21 potential questions to ask before you hire them.