Business climbers hug their Sherpas
Coaching powers people and teams to rise up to their summit
Coaching and mentoring propel peak performance:
“If people mentor you to climb Everest, they must have climbed Everest. If they coach you, they may have gone nowhere near a mountain but have a skill set to ensure you do it.”
Those are the words of Colleen Qvist, and she abides by that distinction. The life and business coach, speaker and facilitator advocates for self-leadership and growth in the healthcare industry.
In an Africa Tweet Chat, Qvist explained why coaching and mentoring in business are important.
“Coaching in the workplace is vital,” she said. “Let’s look at the results of coaching. It is a catalyst to move teams and individuals forward to their next level.
“Coaching leads to better processes, structure, relationships, understanding diversity and inclusion, seeing the bigger picture and the steps to get there,” Qvist said. “A coach can address conflict, fear of change, understanding of stakeholder engagement including employees, sales and an optimized value chain.”
Compared to mentors, coaches dig deep.
“The big difference is a coach asks questions and listens, challenges and holds people accountable,” Qvist said. “The coach also can be outside and not deceived by being too close to the business.
“Times have changed,” she said. “Now we need skill sets that include emotional intelligence and horizontal thinking. We need to be more human and bring hearts and gut to the workplace. This is a scary change for many. Coaches guide in this space.”
Coaching can be done individually or en masse.
“Group and team coaching allows individuals to see each other through different eyes,” Qvist said.
Sharpest tool in the box
Business coaches have an assortment of roles in a field open to those willing to put in the time and effort.
“I work with entrepreneurial businesses, corporations and individuals to be their sounding board, ask questions and bring in alternative ways to see the big picture, identify goals and take steps to those goals,” Qvist said. “I hold accountable and use what’s needed from my coaching tool box.
“I work with systems and processes, but mostly with people and relationships,” she said. “If your turnover is increasing, show me your people. Are they in silos or engaged?”
These are her recommendations to be a business coach:
- Have a combination of training in theory, practice and experience.
- Don’t be fooled. You can’t train overnight to be a coach in anything.
- Don’t coach entrepreneurs from a textbook.
- Look for certified training providers.
“Coaches must know how to coach,” Qvist said. “The client is the expert on the business. Stay away from know-it-all coaches.”
She contends that business coaching programs are a productive use of time and resources.
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“Coaching programs need results,” Qvist said. “If you aren’t willing to invest in money and time in qualified, credentialed coaches or willing to change or do the work, you are wasting your time.
“Coaching is not a magic wand,” she said. “The coach will not do the work for you. Coaching requires willingness to grow. If you want abracadabra, yes, it’s a waste of time.”
Small and medium-sized enterprises can leverage business coaching.
“Often, SMEs don’t have loads of people, yet entrepreneurs rush to do everything,” Qvist said. “These owners work in their business, not on it. They need to take time to stop, see the big picture and plan steps. It’s easy to have excuses as a small-business owner: No time, can’t do everything.
“It’s lonely being an entrepreneur,” she said. “Who can you learn from, talk to, discuss with and be held accountable by? A coach.”
Qvist contends that coaching is “a cost-effective way to gain access to tools and skills you don’t yet know.”
Form fitted
Choosing a business mentor is not easy. Entrepreneurs want to make sure they select the right one.
“Mentor and coach are very different,” Qvist said. “A mentor has done it, run a business like yours and worked in the same industry. A coach will unpack with you what is needed and might know nothing about your industry. You can have both of them.
“Ask your network, use word of mouth, consult professional bodies like Coaches and Mentors of South Africa, shop online and trawl through profiles,” she said. “Do homework. Speak to your list of possibles. Check credentials. Then go with your gut.”
In a sense, you can’t have too many mentors.
“You can have different mentors all at the same time,” Qvist said. “One mentor can get you to the top of Everest. A mentor can allow you to do so as a vegan. Another mentor can help you balance work, parenting and your Everest. You also could have a coach for mindset.”
Regardless of size or position, corporate and individual brands along with SMEs should seek business coaches.
“You get results that are sped up,” Qvist said. “You don’t have to do it on your own. It is lonely being entrepreneurs or corporate executives because often they are too close to the situation. To see solutions, change your mindset.”
Knowledge is power
As a business coach, Qvist has seen her share of obstacles.
“People don’t understand coaching,” she said, “I have to sell the concept before I can coach. There are only so many hours in the day. I support people who try group coaching and go online.
“People need to understand how to collaborate and network,” Qvist said. “Build relationships. Together you can do more. I’ve seen a huge difference just in the last seven years.”
Although entrepreneurs dread the cost of coaches, she does not see that as a pocketbook issue.
“Can’t afford is a mindset,” Qvist said. “It’s a misperception of expense and lack of understanding of the value. Coaching can save you a fortune in the long run. It is an investment, not an expense.
“There will always be a coach in your price bracket,” she said. “Change your mindset to ‘How can I do this?’ and it will happen.”
For those who think employees are not open and free with coaches when the boss is around, Qvist has a retort.
“I coach the team,” she said. “They all need to bring their vulnerabilities to the table.
“I start from the point of what do you want your relationships, department and team to look like? What will you achieve?” she said. “Then I go back to asking how will you achieve it? Where are you now?”
About The Author
Jim Katzaman is a manager at Largo Financial Services and worked in public affairs for the Air Force and federal government. You can connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
