If you think about it, a startup is like a football team at the start of the season. The right combination of skills, talent, leadership, and vision for success is needed to get a jumpstart and surpass the competition. But even if you got all of that, there is still high chance it won’t work without the right business coach to catalyze it.
A lot of companies have been using business coaches for decades. With talent and creativity flocking to startup companies, it is only normal for them to turn to business coaches as well. An executive coach has the potential to help companies evolve out of their business plan and truly prosper. Here are few ways that an executive coach can aid a startup company in reaching the next level:
They are objective – startups have an inherently obvious drawback: their leaders see their ventures like their own children and are too emotionally invested and attached to the business decisions they make. Emotion and passion are important, but they can often cloud perception, planning, and execution of business plans. The objectivity that an executive coach provides goes a long way in enhancing the performance of the startup. A leader of such venture can learn a great deal from an objective coach.
Help leaders develop their personal style – leadership qualities are essential for the success of any startup venture. That is why it is important to foster them right from the start and working with an executive coach can greatly help in that regard. Not only can they evaluate individual skills and see what needs to be improved, but they can also work with the leaders to do just that. Coaches bring out the best in people. Good coaches offer the right insight on behavior and thinking that fosters a suitable leadership style for the startup.
Help team building – the dynamics of the team are tricky business. The reason lies in the fact that every team member brings unique experiences and it can be difficult to make it all work. A good coach can help identify differences and recommend ways of making team gel better. The effectiveness of the team is an important part of every startup project.
Preemptively point out weak links – did you know that 8 out of 10 startups fail within the first year and a half? The reason is that companies do not have an action plan for possible issue down the road. Even skilled leaders might have a hard time reading coming changes and reacting accordingly. A good coach can lend their expertise in that regard and point out possible pitfalls before they manifest themselves.
Setting goals – a unified sense of growth is needed for a startup to grow successfully. An executive coach can work with the leader to align the goals and vision of the company. Not only that, but the coach can align the goals of the company with the leader’s personal goals for professional development and growth.
It is evident that an executive coach does wonders in regards to startups. The business coaching expertise they bring to the table can make a world of difference.
