3 minute read
You’ve seen them on TV, the internet and in magazines. They have boundless energy and make everything seem so easy. Great success awaits you, just like all the great success stories they trot out. They pump their fists and “motivate” you for a few days. The only problem is: “How do I hire the right coach?”
Hiring a restoration business coach takes only a few things. A coach is the right decision for many – but not for all. Before making the call, writing the check, and devoting your time, make sure you have done an honest and open analysis of these points.
FIRST
First and foremost, you MUST be committed to change and improvement. Not everyone can be coached. This is a harsh but accurate statement. Many business owners- especially those that have been somewhat successful over the years- are set in their ways and tend to resist change, or worse yet, criticism. These owners would be wasting their money and their time, along with the time of their coach.
SECOND
You MUST be willing to invest time, effort, and money to this mission. Hiring a restoration business coach requires a two-way commitment. The coach cannot unilaterally come in and make everything better for you. You and your staff must participate every step of the way, working in unison with the coach to achieve any long-lasting changes. It also will not happen overnight. Most successful coaches require at least a full year commitment before any substantial change can be achieved, so “instant success” is not usually on the table.
THIRD
You MUST be ready for success. I know this sounds odd. Who doesn’t want to be more successful? Well, the truth is that some owners are happy to be where they are and do not want to be doing better, as that can raise expectations and pressures within their company or family. If you are not looking for a bigger, brighter future, that is something you must assess.
I’ve coached restorers for over a decade and use these three criteria as the basis for my initial conversations with owners. Before going down the road of studying the company, assessing the wishes and goals of the owner, and implementing custom programs and processes for success, we make sure that the owner is fully committed to the three principles.
As a coach, I’m going to give you some insight as to how we operate. This applies to most coaches and is not unique to restoration. I’ve spent the better portion of my life coaching others. I started in high school, coaching Little Leaguers and Pop Warner football players. That continued for over 30 years, coaching every sport from the youth to high school levels. While working on Wall Street, I chaired the training and education committees of the New York Commodity Exchange for nearly 15 years. The one thing that coaches thrive on is the success of their pupils. Nothing means more to us than seeing our knowledge and work reflected in great success stories of the players, teams, or companies that we mentor.
The reverse is also true. Nothing bothers us more than failure. Two things hurt us when our clients fail: first, we take it personally because we feel it reflects poorly on our skills and abilities; and second, it hurts our “track record,” making it seem that we are not a good coach. The vetting process I described above helps to lessen the risk of a restorer not committed – then blaming the coach.
Once you are committed, the next step is finding the right coach. Hiring a restoration business coach should not be a simple, quick process. Your coach must be someone who has the skills and expertise to work with your specific needs. For instance, if you need a coach to help you with marketing and sales processes, there are only a small handful of reputable choices you should consider. If you are interested in understanding the financial side of your business, that pool is even smaller. Do your homework and find the coach that is right for you. Remember, Bill Belichick is an amazing football coach, but should you hire him to lead your hockey team? Probably not – although that would be an interesting experiment!
Take your time and research your choices. Then, interview your coach. Are they working for you, or does it feel like the other way around? Are they providing you solutions for your business, or are they forcing you to conform to their pre-packaged system? Answering these questions will go a long way toward giving you your answer.
Hiring a restoration business coach should be a roadmap for success and growth. Take the primary steps and do your homework first, make sure you are ready, and then bring them on. You won’t regret your decision!
By: Bill Giannone, Co-Founder The CREST Network, LLC.
Nationally recognized coach, consultant, and trainer
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