Lately you’ve been in a bit of funk. You look at other people and what they’re doing and you’re feeling jealous. You think “Why them? Why not me?”

Your business is good, but it’s not exactly great. You want more growth and a better plan for how that’s going to happen.

Suddenly, in your Facebook news feed, you see something that could be the solution. A coach.
Someone who says they can help you double, triple or more your business. It seems like exactly what you need.

So you dig in and things look good on the surface. Next thing you know you’ve paid the equivalent of a single month or more of revenue fueled by discomfort and maybe even a bit of desperation.
Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. Out of sorts and vulnerable to great marketing.

There are times when discomfort can be a great tool in our business, but when it comes to hiring a business coach or making a big investment, it’s not working in our best interests.

Hiring a business coach should be a strategic exercise, not one driven by a voice in the back of your head whispering “you’re not good enough” or fear of missing out.

Coaching Results May Vary (Wildly)

Over the years, I’ve worked with a variety of coaches on different aspects of my business. I’m a superfan of bringing on people who are complete smarty pants at what they do and can help me see my business in a new way.

But the value and results from that coaching has varied dramatically.

The best investments in coaching for my business have come from hiring a coach for a very specific aspect of my business. That specificity is what helped drive results because we weren’t trying to eat the elephant. We had an incredibly focused area to work together on.

In many instances – I wouldn’t even call the people I work with on a regular basis “coaches” anymore as much as I would call them “consultants” and “mentors.”

My one big mistake with business coaching was hiring without directly tying the investment to a specific not strategic priority. General coaching can be helpful, but when you want growth in your business we need to be very clear about our goals and objectives. When you tie the decision to bring on a coach to a specific goal, you’ll be less likely to make a buying decision due to feeling pressure, from a place of discomfort, or not wanting to miss out. (Hello, #FOMO is that you?)

Here are a few ways to help you get clear on what you really need from a business coach so you can avoid making the same mistake:

#1. Dig Into Why You NEED a Coach (Consultant or Mentor)

Many times when we hire a coach, it’s because we’re muddled. Instead of trying to untangle things on our own, we decide that we need someone else to do it for us.

A coach can definitely help you get clear and sort out the direction you’re going in, but you need to be prepared to do the work. No coach is magically going to help you break through everything without some hard work on your part {no matter what they may promise you}.

Instead of settling for needing a coach for a non-specific unsettled feeling, take the time to dig through why you need a coach and what you need them to work on. Maybe you need someone to help with building a team or creating a revenue plan? Or someone to work with you on a marketing strategy?

Spending time here means you can bring in the right coach for the job and not be stuck trying to get one person who’s the jack of all trades and master of none.

#2. Get Clear on What Results You Expect

This may seem totally obvious, but it’s hard to hire a coach until you know exactly what your desired results are. Sure someone can coach you, but can they help you 2x or 3x your business? Can they give you what you need to move from a 1:1 model to a 1 to many business model?

Clearly stating your expectations before you even start looking for a coach gives you the power to quickly and ruthlessly discard coaches that aren’t a fit. There’s no shortage of coaches available, so you don’t need to settle for anything else than what you’re looking for.

Armed with your specific results, you can also ensure that anyone on your shortlist can actually help you deliver on this vision. There’s no point hiring a coach that works with people making their first $10k when you’re already cracking $20k months and want to grow your biz to a whole new level.

#3. Protect Yourself from Imposters

Sounds harsh, right? But when you’re doing business online and hiring people you don’t know in real life, you need to do a bit more homework before you fire up your PayPal account and commit to anything.

Start by doing your homework. Testimonials and references from your would-be coach are great, but remember they’re not exactly going to share anything negative. Ask around and see what you can find out from your business buds or other people you may know. More than once I’ve found out after hiring someone that a good friend had a negative experience with the same person. If I’d asked I’d have saved myself the money and pain in the rear of going there.

At the point at which you’re ready to sign on the dotted line, remember you’re in the driver’s seat so you don’t have to play into any high pressure tactics or things that make you uncomfortable. It’s totally fine for a coach to ask you for a yes on the consult, but it’s equally okay for you to say you need to think about it, or even give them a firm no.

If the energy or vibe is off, you reserve the right to do whatever the heck you want!

Saying no or taking more time to think it through will help you save yourself from making the wrong decision.

Hiring a coach is exciting and sometimes a bit nerve racking. Doing a little prep work can help you save your precious time, money and sanity so you don’t make a big mistake.

Back to your business – Are you currently looking for a new coach? Or do you have other tips for finding the perfect fit?

Tell us in the comments!