The Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Business or Executive Coach
by Robert Knowlton, Certified Business Coach

1. TO KEEP UP
You can't solve tomorrow's issues with yesterday's strategies. An experienced Coach helps you develop the capacity to handle the increased complexity of your world.

2. TIME
The Executive Business Coach is trained to help you identify what's important now and in the future as you create business results. Leveraging your time is critical. Short, focused coaching sessions move you forward quickly.

3. AWARENESS and BLINDSPOTS
A good Coach helps you develop your awareness - awareness of your mental models, or how you make sense of your world - and awareness of the impact of your words and actions on others. Your blind spots (and we all have them) can be fatal in business. A coach can help you understand perspectives you may not have considered. You can't move beyond your biases if you don't recognize them. Increased awareness is critical to executive and leadership development.

4. BALANCE
The pressures of juggling work/life balance are always present. Quality coaching naturally facilitates your choices in establishing the level of balance you want.

5. COMMUNICATION
Your effectiveness in getting your message across and being able to draw the information you need from others and your team is critical to your success. A Coach can help you develop your competence in communication, listening skills, presenting your ideas, managing meetings and people. What you say and how you say it can be greatly enhanced with the clarity that comes from working with a Coach.

6. PURPOSE
Without clarity of Purpose, individuals and organization have no foundation on which to build or expand their networks. Clarity of purpose makes explicit the reasons for being and motives for action. Clear purpose allows others to align their efforts in support of organizational purpose.

7. CONGRUENCE
We are all looking for congruence in our leaders and associates. Business Coaches help you to BE congruent and live in alignment as you walk your talk. Congruence comes out of developing your awareness of the impact you have on others. Coaching to align identity, intention and action helps establish congruence, a byproduct of which is others' confidence in you as a leader.

8. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Studies show Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is more important than IQ in an Executive, leader, business owner and manager. A Coach helps you understand and develop higher levels of emotional intelligence.

9. A DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Having a personal and professional development plan can act as your guide to increase your capacity and competence to lead. With a map, a plan and a coach, the chances for reaching your goals will be much stronger.

10. THE COACH SPACE -- CONFIDENTIAL, SECURE, SAFE
Many leaders and business people say they do not have any place where they can test, explore, discuss and receive push-back on issues critical to their growth and success. The coaching conversation is about all the points above and hinges on the right environment of confidentiality, safety and openness. This is The Coach Space. It is the space where clarity, insight, growth and development happen.

© Copyright 2002 Robert Knowlton. All rights reserved.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert Knowlton is a Certified Business Coach. Experience results-oriented coaching for executives, business owners, consultants, managers and professionals. Coaching in leadership development, communications strategies, presentation skills, and aligning personal and organizational purpose and vision. http://www.SuccessOptions.com 888.434.2555