Coaching
What does a business coach do?
A plain-English explanation of what a business coach does, what happens in sessions, and how to tell if coaching is right for your business.
By Clyde LangleyUpdated 5 min read
Quick answer
A business coach helps a business owner set clear goals, see the numbers that matter, decide what to do next and follow through. They do not run the business or hand over ready-made answers. They bring structure, an outside view and regular accountability, usually over months.
The short version
Most owners know roughly what they should be doing. The problem is that the day job eats the week, decisions get put off and plans drift. A business coach is the person who makes you stop, decide and commit, then checks back to see whether you did it.
What a business coach actually does
- Helps you get clear on what you want from the business, in writing
- Turns that into a short plan for the next 90 days
- Gets you looking at a few key numbers every week, not once a year
- Helps you sort out roles so the team owns more and you own less
- Asks the questions your team, family and friends will not
- Holds you to the commitments you make, session after session
What a business coach does not do
A coach is not an employee, an accountant or a consultant who fixes things for you. They will not write your marketing, do your books or manage your staff. If you need that, you need a different kind of help, and a good coach will tell you so.
What happens in a coaching session
A typical session runs for about an hour over video. In MyMastery it looks like this:
- You send a short prep note: what you want to work on and what has changed.
- You review last session's commitments: done, partly done or not done.
- You work on one or two real issues in depth.
- You leave with clear actions and dates, written down.
Who gets the most out of a business coach
Coaching works best for owners whose business already works but leans on them too heavily, and who are willing to change how they spend their time. It works least well for someone looking for a quick fix or someone who will not do the work between sessions.