Adopting a coaching mindset can elevate your personal and professional growth. As another year ends, it’s the perfect time for you, as a business owner or entrepreneur, to reflect on your journey so far.

Managing a business is hard work, and you might get pulled in all directions. One area that you may often overlook is your personal development.

There is a special kind of magic and a transformative power in working with the right coach. They offer invaluable guidance and support that can boost your professional activities and your personal growth.

The power of coaching: nurturing success

Running a business is challenging as well as rewarding. The journey is full of uncertainties and upsets alongside a constant evolution. When you have a coach or mentor by your side, these challenges never feel so big. You have a cheerleader.

A coach adds an external perspective, using their own experiences and knowledge to guide you through any obstacle, offering clarity in decision-making and helping you uncover your potential.

Let’s explore the main benefits of having a coach or a mentor.

Improvement in skills – a coach can help you hone your skillset, whether that’s communication, listening, time management, or leadership.

Accountability – having someone you trust hold you accountable is a powerful strategy for business growth. A coach will ensure you stay committed to your goals and keep making progress.

Perspective – working with someone who has an unbiased perspective brings with it an objective viewpoint that helps you grow beyond your own assumptions.

Safe space – when facing challenges, it helps to know that your coach will provide a safe environment to discuss any issues. In turn, this reduces stress and helps you build resilience.

Personal development – through insightful and reflective conversations, your coach will help you navigate your journey of self-discovery to promote holistic growth in your life and business.

One of the key elements of coaching is receiving feedback. As entrepreneurs, you may shy away from asking for constructive feedback for fear of rejection, but understanding that continuous and honest feedback builds improvements is a game changer.

Working with a coach means accepting any weaknesses and acknowledging your strengths. Only when you do this can you begin to grow and develop. Tapping into your UHP® (Unique Human Proposition) helps you understand yourself better and see your strengths and weaknesses as gateways to success.

I worked with Jules over a number of sessions on developing my UHP – Unique Human Proposition® Jules coached me in key areas such as storytelling, the value ladder, the client journey, websites, social media, being myself and confidence.

Jules is the ultimate professional and is organised, focused and thorough in everything that she delivers. I would say that her UHP is that she really cares and wants to help out so much. She clearly loves what she does and this shines through at all times. I would highly recommend Jules if you are considering personal and/or business development.” Rory Brazil, Brazil Financial

Do you struggle to accept feedback?

There is a lot you can learn from the feedback you receive, and it’s valuable to embrace this to help target your self-improvement, understand who and what can help you make better decisions, and create a culture of empowerment.

Setting the stage for business growth

December is the perfect month for reflection. Reviewing your successes, setbacks, and lessons learned allows you to set out a strategic plan of action for the upcoming year.

How can you set the stage for a new year of business growth?

Assess your progress – review all your achievements and challenges from the last twelve months and identify areas that need improvement.

Goal setting – there’s a new twist to the well-worn SMART framework called SLIM, which comes from Marc Effron’s book 8 Steps to High Performance: Focus on What You Can Change. The SLIM framework focuses on Specific, Learning-Orientated, Impactful, and Measurable goals.

Coaching – working with an experienced coach will help you identify the focus areas to put a plan of action in place for business growth.

If you’re ready to embrace coaching for your personal and professional development, be sure to brainstorm what you need and make a list of who to approach. Finding the right coach is an important part of the process. Shop around, attend networking events, ask for referrals, and jump on discovery calls until you find the right coach for you.

Identify your needs and pinpoint the areas of your business where you want to develop, whether that’s your sales, marketing, communication, leadership, or wellbeing.

Be clear on the objectives and goals you want to set when working with a coach, and most importantly, commit to your growth. Embrace all the feedback you get, be open to change, and actively engage with the process. Only then will you reap the benefits.

Coaching for personal and professional development is a strategic necessity for all small business owners. Think of coaching as a compass that navigates you through the choppy seas. When you embark on a coaching journey, be prepared to unlock your full potential, build resilience, and boost your business.

As one year ends and another begins, let coaching be your guiding light for business growth and personal development.

Are you ready to embrace coaching for the good of your business?

Book one of my Express30 coaching sessions and gain the clarity you need to drive sales in your business. Do you have a burning challenge with sales, then my Express 30 sessions are designed to solve that issue in just 30 minutes.

I booked an Express30 session with Jules when I was feeling a bit blocked on my business’s direction. I needed clarity on the services I offer and a boost of confidence to push forward with my plans. Jules doesn’t waste a second and quickly gets to the core of your challenge, ensuring you leave with everything you need and a buzz about your business goals. I can highly recommend these Express30 sessions.” Shelley Wilson, Writing Mentor

Want to find out more? Schedule a virtual cuppa with me, and we can have a chat about the Express30 sessions or my other coaching services.

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