WIB: Many women have a mentor. How is a business mentor different from a coach? What are some of the ways women can benefit for the professional services of a qualified business coach?
McKee: I am a big advocate of Women using a mentor, regardless of what role they occupy. A mentor is someone who has experience or seniority in the company or industry. They can provide a new and beneficial perspective for their mentee and consequently having one will help you perform better on several levels. She or he can provide advice on a career path within the company, information on the company itself and key players and insights on their, and related, industries. Your mentor is also a resource for reviewing performance at a meeting, presentation or on a project. She can help identify ways to successfully manage strategies for succeeding within the company.
A coach, on the other hand, is someone who is specifically trained to help you perform better whether it's in your job, your personal life or on otherwise. They do this by providing perspective and an unbiased advice and feedback. I suggest that one's coach have relevant experience, for example as a business leader themselves or in the actual field to be most effective. However, that does not mean they need to know your business as well as you do. A good example would be someone like Tiger Woods - it's unlikely that his coaches are as good at golf, but they can see him doing things he cannot see himself and consequently they provide perspective. In the same way, a business or career coach will look at things differently and act as another set of eyes.
A good coach also acts as your partner. They help you plan, keep you on track and achieve your goals. When choosing one, I recommend that you come to agreed-upon outcomes or measures of success before you begin working together; you want to have timelines and goals to ensure you are getting a solid return on the investment.
Using an experienced business coach can really fuel your career growth because they can share time-tested tips and tactics, lessening time spent learning these lessons by trial and error. My clients appreciate that my guidance is based on experience as well as formal training. Below are a few things to look for when selecting a coach:
- Training from an accredited academy or school
- Affiliations with professional associations such as the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches or the International Coaching Federation.
- Real world experience relevant to your needs.
- Ask for a free consultation which ensures you will work together well
If you would like to discuss in more detail how you can benefit from a business or success coach, or have any questions on any of the topics above, you can contact Mr. McKee at John@BusinessSuccessCoach.net.
Interview Date: April 27, 2009
