Where do you start with business or leadership coaching?
The Deep Dive Day
Find out more by booking a free session with me.
It is well documented that all elite performers, in any field of activity, enhance their chances of being successful by working with a coach. Some highly successful people have several coaches for specific areas of their lives. For example, an athlete will have an athletics coach, a nutrition coach and a wealth coach. As their career progresses they then might need a public speaking coach to promote their books!
My point is that it is incredibly rare that anyone actually achieves their highest level of success without working with a coach of some shape or form. (Even Einstein had a mentor!)
My observation from my coaching career is that business owners and executive leaders find it the hardest to accept that coaching support is necessary – without ever having explored it for themselves. It is up to good coaches to help them understand the value of coaching in the way which resonates with them.
Even when they understand the value, it is hard for people to understand where to start their coaching journey. There are so many connecting factors in business and leadership performance, so what is the best way to get going?
It is so important to know where you are currently in order to establish a solid platform from which to launch into your coaching relationship. Everyone’s needs and desires will be individual to them. There is not a “one size fits all” coaching programme for any person or business.
That is why I always start with a “Deep Dive Day” whatever work I embark on, with any potential client. Sometimes that Deep Dive Day is a massive relief. They get clarity. I love that!
What is a Deep Dive Day like?
Every one of these sessions I have ever carried out has been unique but had the same gentle framework. Essentially it is an exploration of the situation as it exists right now.
We work through all elements of all the activity to establish what is currently working well and how that is being measured. We explore the numbers and the processes and take the learning from any successful elements of the situation as it is.
We then explore what is currently not working so well and by looking back at challenges and barriers to effectiveness and results.
This aspect can cover any number of different pain points. Examples have included practical aspects such as:
- struggling with a poor operating system at the end of its useful life
- poor communication channels throughout the way the work is organised
- the wrong people in the wrong positions
- no number tracking is being used due to a lack of knowledge or skills
- no performance management in place
- a lack of realisation that the market has moved on, but the business has stayed the same
- a lack of understanding of marketing or sales skills
- chasing sales without the operational capacity to cope with demand
and others – but you get the idea. It is so hard when you are so wrapped up in yourself that you “can’t see the wood for the trees.”
Other elements causing barriers might come from the so-called “soft skills” barriers, such as:
- a lack of people management skills throughout the organisation
- no clear vision – hence poor clarity, direction and motivation
- a lack of accountability
- poor relationships within and between teams
- imposter syndrome at the top (mindset at the top affects everything)
Within smaller businesses, it is often as simple as the fact that there is not enough structure to allow for effective organisation of the work or a clear understanding of how to make progress one step at a time.
The effectiveness of the Deep Dive Day is possible because many of the issues presented have common themes within sectors or within structures which are similar. Only a person outside of the organisation can see these things as patterns.
People often think that their issues are unique to them. Having examined many businesses, it is easy for someone in my situation (on the outside looking in) to spot patterns and similarities. My experience provides an insight that business owners, or executives have not had the chance to gather.
It is thrilling for me to be able to help people to discover the areas of their businesses, or with their own habits or thinking patterns and to help them develop new ways of thinking and doing create improvements. Not only that – it often leads to more enjoyment!
This all starts with the Deep Dive Day exploration of the current situation. After that is done, we take a breather – then we set out digging into what the future might hold!
We take time to examine the opportunities for growth – for the business, the team and for the key people within the business in terms of their personal development. You can’t change a business without changing the thinking of the people within it. Most significantly this is important for the person in charge.
We create a set of priorities to enable a clear plan for the future, based on all the learning from the past.
Once you know where you are, and you have set out the plan for your desired future with your coach, you then begin working together to break those goals down into doable chunks.
That’s how you and I would get started on your coaching path.
Find out more by booking a free session with me.