7 reasons to go to business coach

Launching a startup is a huge job that requires a 100% return from the team. Therefore, founders are constantly faced with a large number of issues and tasks from various fields related not only to developing a product and seeking funding, but also to creating an efficient and well-coordinated team. It is extremely difficult for one person to cope with all the tasks at a high level, so you have to resort to the help of experts: mentors, advisors and coaches. If the concepts of mentoring and advising have long been well known, then coaching is a relatively new concept for our region. In this article, we will figure out who coaches are and why a startup should turn to them for help.

Who are business coaches?

Coaching is a method of counseling, during which a person called a "coachee" achieves a certain life or professional goal. Becoming a business coach involves certain coaching credentials.

There are various certifications available for business coaches offered by the International Coach Federation (ICF), one of the industry’s most widely recognized and respected coaching certifications. To become an ICF credentialed coach, it is necessary to complete coach-specific training, demonstrate a certain level of coaching experience, and pass an exam. Like ICF, there are other organizations that offer coaching credentials. Among them are the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC), Association for Coaching (AC), International Coach and Trainer Association (ICTA), and others.

How can a business coach help?

1. Hiring and onboarding: A coach helps start-up leaders build a successful team and streamline the onboarding process ensuring smooth and fast integration of new members into the team.
2. Improving communication and collaboration: A coach guides start-ups in establishing clear expectations and strategies to improve team communication and collaboration.
3. Developing leadership skills: A coach helps start-up leaders manage teams, provide constructive feedback, make decisions, delegate tasks, and resolve conflicts.
4. Managing change: A coach supports start-up leaders in navigating significant changes such as new product launches, organizational restructuring or expanding teams, and preparing employees to handle new challenges.
5. Fostering a positive company culture: A coach helps start-ups develop a shared vision and values, and establish practices and policies that promote collaboration, innovation, and personal growth.
6. Developing a clear strategy: A coach helps start-ups create a roadmap to reach their goals and make the best use of their limited resources.
7. Providing valuable perspective: A coach offers impartial feedback and guidance to help start-up leaders see their businesses from a different angle, identify new opportunities, and avoid common pitfalls.

“When you are working with entrepreneurs, it is very important to understand that, first of all, we need to work with the entrepreneur’s head, since everything that happens in their business is a reflection of his thoughts and the thoughts of their teams. In this regard, we decided to add coaching elements in the Readiness Investment Accelerator program and maximize the results of the work of trackers/experts/mentors”

Andrey Kryukov, Head of Educational Programs, MOST Business Incubator

The most important thing to remember when looking for a business coach is to find one whose education and experience match your specific goals.

Where to find a professional business coach?

• Referrals from other business owners or professionals in your network.
• Professional coaching organizations such as the International Coach Federation or the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches.
• Online platforms such as CoachHub, BetterUp, Torch, GrowthSpace, and others.
• LinkedIn, where you can search for and connect with business coaches who specialize in your industry or area of interest.

While business coaching is a valuable resource for many technology start-ups, there are some situations where coaching might be not effective enough. Here are a few examples:

• Lack of buy-in: If a start-up leader is not fully committed to the coaching process and does not see the value of working with a coach, it is unlikely that the coaching will be effective. The leader must be willing to learn, listen, and make changes for coaching to be successful.
• Resistance to change: If a start-up leader or team is resistant to change, it can be challenging for a coach to help them improve. In order to be successful, the start-up leader must be open to feedback and willing to make changes to their processes and practices.
• Inexperienced leadership: In some cases, start-up leaders may need more experience or skills to manage their teams effectively. While coaching can help them improve, it may not be enough to overcome these fundamental leadership challenges and additional leadership training might be required.

By working with the right coach, technology startups can gain valuable insights and strategies, build strong, effective teams and navigate the challenges to achieve long-term success and make a lasting impact on the world. So, don't be afraid to ask for help.

The material was created in collaboration with a Business Coach, Marina Stasevich