Questions about local vs distance coaching

My thanks go to all who have been in touch recently. I've had a lot of questions about business coaching and a topic that has come up more than most has been on the subject of distance coaching. Specifically, does coaching have to be face to face? And does distance coaching work?

The short answers are "No" to the former and "Yes" to the latter.

So that's it. Thanks for stopping by....

Kidding!

I would liken it to distance learning which has opened up academic opportunity to millions that have previously not had the option of further education. Naturally, there are times when distant learning can be difficult. For example, if you're doing a science course and you have to run a complex experiment, it's unlikely you'll have a full lab set-up at home, but most of the time it works extremely well for all concerned.

One to one distance coaching can be hugely successful. I utilise calls, email and video-conference calls, typically via Skype.

Of course, there are times where it really does make sense to have a hands-on, on-site engagement and I do a lot of these, but for the most part, distance coaching can be highly effective.

To that end we have numerous overseas coaching clients as well as here in the UK, some of whom 100's of miles away and some extremely local. The internet makes the world a small place and technology is so good now that a client can be on the other side of the world and it just doesn't matter.

So there you have it. Distance coaching works. It takes commitment to putting in the time but it can be highly successful and extremely rewarding for all parties. Another advantage is flexibility. Can't fit a coaching session into your usual working day? This isn't a problem for either local or distant coaching. I have a number of executive coaching clients that prefer an out of hours time slot. And of course, if we're talking different time zones your 6am could be my 2pm and so on.

If you'd like to engage a business coach but have resisted due to lack of local resources or you're short of time during your regular working day, that needn't preclude using the services of a business coach. So feel free to get in touch to discuss your individual requirements.

Thanks as ever.

Running a small business is a bit like training for MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)

Huh? MMA, Mixed Martial Arts? You might know it under a brand name of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) or 'Cage Fighting'.

Now, before you think I've lost my mind - and if you see a tiny grey squishy thing rolling around on the carpet, it could be mine - MMA is a multi-disciplined sport encompassing a variety of fighting styles. Leading exponents would be expected to have advanced skills in a blend of wrestling (Greco Roman not WWE or Big Daddy style!), jiu jitsu (grappling, submissions, choke holds), boxing, kick-boxing, muay thai and others.

As well as developing skills and techniques in the fighting styles and the blending thereof, the fighter also has to work on stamina, strength, speed and power, as well as maintaining an appropriate bodyweight for his weightclass.

Sounds hellishly difficult doesn't it? It takes enormous levels of dedication, commitment and discipline to achieve success in this emerging sport (I say emerging as it's yet to break the mainstream media, although it already has a huge global following, especially the UFC). Oh, and they fight for up to 5x 5 minute rounds. I'm tired just writing about it.

Now think about what it takes to run a small business. You need to be multi-skilled also. We've probably heard the term 'Chief Everything Officer' which initially you could be forgiven for thinking is just an amusing spin on 'CEO'. But actually, it's a good description. Being a business owner or senior player in small business really can be about doing a bit of everything.

We need to be multi-disciplined. We have to be commercially savvy, be able to develop customer relationships, deal with suppliers, handle staffing matters, finance, sales, marketing, 'paperwork' and the list goes on....

There is also the issue of staying current. We have to make sure we don't fall behind the times.

We also know that if we let any of these areas slip we can get into trouble quickly. Not just because our days become chaotic. There are those pesky things called competitors out there that can makes our lives even more difficult, right?

The good news is that you're not in this alone. There's a wealth of help and advice at your fingertips. From business coaching, to accountants, to outsourcing, there's a plethora of assistance available to you at at a price to suit your budget.

So we don't all need to be exactly like MMA fighters. They have no choice but to be personally expert in every facet of their game. We have the luxury of being able to have an understanding of each area, and by ensuring we have expertise in the right places we can run successful businesses that stay fighting fit.

As a business coach I ensure that I am not only up to date with generally accepted techniques and methodologies, but I have also created my own innovative coaching style. If you'd like to discuss your business requirements or have a 'business fitness' review, feel free to contact me.

Battle of Wounded Knee

Not that one. Not the infamous massacre c. 1890. My left one. Of course! All is proceeding well in the attempt to fix the weakened joint as I attend to its every whim. Ice and heat, rest, specific exercises, weights, and cycling have all been employed in an attempt to correct the frailties that had crept in over time.

But no running for now. Which is a shame, but a necessary evil as I attempt to recover from the injury. But overall, things are going well, so reasons to be cheerful!

What does this have to do with business..? Well, not a lot specifically, although I did say I'd keep you updated with sporting exploits, good and bad.

That said, we often have what could be considered to be minor injuries in business with which we manfully struggle on. And just like I did with an injured knee, we can make matters worse in the process. I recently found out about 'referred pain' where you get discomfort away from the injury site, and also about overcompensating, where fit muscles take over from injured ones as a protective measure.

This happens all the time in business. How often has a star employee ended up exhausted and off sick due to carrying the weight of a team where one or more others don't pull their weight? This would be overcompensating.

Or a clearly failing department is ignored until it substantially impacts the business as a whole?

I was once called upon to coach a distribution company that had ignored the fact that it's warehouse and logistics group couldn't deliver the right goods, to the correct customer and the agreed time. It wasn't until customers started leaving in droves that the management called in the cavalry (see what I did there? :)). Was it fixable? Yes, but not without taking significant damage to reputation, finances and morale. I'd say this is considerable referred pain wouldn't you?

So whether it's a sporting twinge or a business niggle, address it early and often to stay fit and healthy for the long term. As we so often say, it not a sprint but a marathon!

If you have any business issues that you'd like to discuss or you think you'd benefit from a review of your business, please do get in touch.

Thanks as ever for stopping by.

Who are you and what do you do?

I recently sat down with a small company that was asking for help with its marketing. Huh? Yes, marketing. I have many years of sales and marketing experience and I get asked to help in this area often, along with my innovative business coaching engagements.

What was fascinating about the conversation was that having sat and listened to what was required and what the end result should look like, I asked what I thought were some basic questions. How are you positioning yourself versus your competition? What is your USP, if any? What are your core focus areas and what are you secondary areas of interest? What is your strategy going forward in terms of emerging markets and technology?

Long silence.

I suggested that it might be a good idea to have this information before throwing large sums of money at marketing campaigns. And that having some supporting collateral would also be useful.

Nodding heads.

So what are the answers.....? Long silence.

Would it be beneficial to have some time with the key stakeholders in a room together to get this stuff worked out? Nodding heads.

The next step is a one day session working through these very key areas, with me acting as the facilitator. A good facilitator doesn't need to have industry specific knowledge but in this case I know the customer's marketplace very well so can add even more value to the process.

As a coach I enjoy the role of facilitator and it's a role I do perform well (I know that sounds immodest but it's true). If you find yourself with a need to 'fill-in the blanks' for your business or for a particular project, feel free to get in touch. I'd be happy to act as coach or facilitator for you. Just leave a comment and I'll get right back to you.

Break, Fix, Improve - Part 2

OK so we knew this one was coming!

In the previous post we were talking about something being broken, fixed and improved, in order to be stronger. In that post the subject was me. And a dodgy knee caused by my stubborn stupidity amongst other things.

But you have to admit that the parallels to businesses with issues are striking. Think of this. There's a business problem, albeit small, and so you ignore it. It's gets a little worse but you can still work through or around it. Eventually the issue can no longer be ignored. It's got to the point where the business can no longer function normally anymore.

So what should one do? Limp along with a fundamentally broken business, whilst losing valuable customers and staff? Or maybe look to address the issues? And in doing so work to ensure that the problems are dealt with and unlikely to return. And of course finally, to not only fix the immediate issue but to become stronger for the experience.

All sounds very obvious so far right? But you'd be amazed by how often issues are just left to fester. Things either slowly fall apart or people learn to live with them.

One of the many things a business coach can do is help organisations to deal with exactly this kind of scenario. Sometimes it takes an 'outsider' to be the bad guy, to call it as it is and suggest appropriate responses and changes. The keys are objectivity and independence. A coach has a brief to help the business. Whilst it's important, in my opinion, to have an understanding of the broader scenario, a good coach will work to the brief for the benefit of the business, without being swayed by politics or other influences.

We evaluate a problem, propose remedies, assist in implementation if required and help you and your business emerge stronger than ever.

In fact, we help with this scenario more than any other. If the above is familiar to you or there's another issue or question that springs to mind and you'd like to talk it through with me, please do get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.

Break, Fix, Improve

For those of you who don't know, I like to run. I'm not saying I'm any good, I just enjoy it. Outside or on the treadmill, running enables me to clear my mind and to stay fit at the same time, as well as catching up with my iTunes library. Just recently I've had a niggle in my left knee. Nothing too bad to start with, but I ignored it and it got progressively worse. A few days ago I was running on my treadmill (thinking this would be easier on a sore knee!) and I had to stop. It suddenly really hurt and I slowed to a walking pace. After a few minutes the pain had cleared and I upped the pace once more. For a about 5 seconds, and BAM! My knee just gave out. Finally, I took this as a sign to get off, apply ice and to check out symptoms, diagnoses and suggested treatments.

So here I am needing to train for a 20K off-road event next month and unable to run. I need to rehab my knee first before entertaining serious training. I ignored the warning signs and I'm now paying the price.

The good news is that I've established that I neglected some things in my training which, along with just plain doing too much too soon, contributed to the injury. So along with fixing this particular problem, I now know how to improve my fitness regime.

I will come back stronger.

Business parallels? You bet! One for next time.....

Spikes and troughs

As you may have read in a previous post, each and every one of us is subject to the influence of circadian rhythms and our body clock. We are all influenced, every day, by the ups and downs of our energy flow.

This subject, combined with some of my own recent business experiences, got me thinking about the peaks and troughs that our businesses experience and the levels of productivity we attain during these periods.

The week after Easter I worked really hard trying to follow up with clients, chasing open proposals and attempting to connect with new prospects. At the end of the week I was exhausted, disappointed and generally de-motivated.

The reason for this is that here in the UK we have a holiday on the Friday before Easter Sunday as well as the Monday. The rest of the week is often taken as vacation to coincide with the school holidays and to get 10 continuous days out of the office using only 4 vacation days!

I know this. I know it’s like it every year. I don’t know what I was thinking. I guess I got a little carried away by all the great things going on at the moment. But I kept hammering away to little avail. The lights were only dimly on and nobody was at home. And yes, that applies to me too! But hey, I’m human and still make mistakes. At least this time I feel I've learned the lesson.

What would I have lost by focusing on work that I could just do in isolation and taking a couple of days out to spend with my own children? My guess is nothing. I could have a had a great week, enjoyed time with my kids and come back the following week refreshed and raring to go.

If we extrapolate my example across all the businesses out there, how many of us foresee, for example, the seasonal shifts and plan around them to maximise our productivity. How many of us waste time, energy and money in the wrong place and at the wrong time? Heading for a slow period? What a great time to give your customer facing staff some training. If there’s little going on it’s not going to hurt to take your sales reps off the road for a few days in order that they go back out there up-skilled and motivated right?

Incidentally, if you want access to the best sales training on the market, contact us please. We partner with a company that delivers astonishing results and we get great rates in the process!

The converse is also true. If there’s a busy period coming up you’re going to want to ensure that all your staff are ready to go, and absolutely not booked on training or out on vacation. In today’s business climate, a slow response to email, a couple of rings too many on the phone and that customer or prospect it gone. And then you have to spend a ton of money to get them back.

So to recap, let’s give some thought to planning around seasonal or industry peaks and slumps to maximise our productivity, results and motivation!

If you’d like help in planning for these events or more information regarding leading edge training programmes, please get in touch at andrew@acquirebusiness.net or go to my company site and use the contact form by clicking here.

Thanks for stopping by and please visit again soon.

Just Do It

Just Do It. It’s easy to say and sounds especially cool as a certain sportswear company’s strapline. Carrying on from the procrastination blog article I wrote recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that whilst we can dress it up anyway we like, most if the time it comes down to just do it. Plain and simple.

I had to smile yesterday when I was pointed in the direction of endurance sport coach Martin Yelling’s blog. He struck me as a man fed up with being asked for magic cures for how to fix all running-related ills, in particular about achieving a faster time. Read the article and you’ll see phrases like you have to want it and questions such as how much are you willing to invest to achieve your goal? Of course, in sport we’re talking time, blood, sweat and tears. Is it any different in business or in handling our careers? My answer to that is that whilst there are some striking parallels, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you take running as an example, there simply is no substitute for putting in the miles. The long runs, the speed work, the hill climbs and various other training techniques. We can be guided, but nobody can do those miles for us. In business however, there’s a wealth of experience and talent that can be called upon to help us achieve our goals.

Whether we need help establishing those goals in the first place (you may remember the woods for the trees post), assistance in defining a plan and executing on it, or getting somebody else to do the work for you, it’s all there. Usually at a cost admittedly, and we sometimes have to suck a few lemons in the process, but the expertise you need to help you develop your business whilst avoiding the common pitfalls is right here at your fingertips. I'm not going to claim to have the panacea for all ills and if I can't help you I'll tell you. It might be that I honestly think you should throw in the towel, go do something else. However for the vast majority of cases my colleagues and I have the expertise to assist and make a tangible difference to your business or career.

So like Martin Yelling I’ll ask you a few questions;

• What do you want to achieve?
• How much do you really want to achieve it?
• What do you need to do to make this aspiration a reality?
• Are you prepared to invest the time and/or money to make the change?
• How will you know when you’ve achieved it?
• Are you prepared to take the action required to get there?

Give it some thought, and when you’re ready, just do it. Take a step forward. You can contact me or outline your new plan yourself. Maybe sit down with trusted friends or colleagues. Whichever you choose, just do it.

If you’d like to talk through your current situation and where you’re looking to go, please do just contact me at andrew@acquirebusiness.net.

Thanks for stopping by.

PS – I’ve taken my own medicine on both the running and the business front and guess what? It works!

Joanna's Marathon Journey

There are lots of great things we can do to motivate ourselves, information to gather, nutrition plans to follow etc.. But, you know sometimes, there's nothing for it but to gut it out in order to achieve your goals.

Have a look at this video. I find it really inspiring and I hope you will too.

A New Dawn

Hi Everyone, I want to share with you the following from one of my business blogs;

A New Dawn

"So the UK general election is over and we have a new government. For lots of people that’s a great thing, for others, not so much! Let’s make no mistake. David Cameron and Nick Clegg, as leaders of this new coalition, have a huge job on their hands to get the UK on its feet again and they’ll have no idea just how bad things are for a little while yet.

Meanwhile, we have to focus and keep doing what we do best to keep our order books full, staff motivated and not get sucked in to the inevitable, general ‘we’re doomed’ mentality and ‘we’re not making any decisions’ stories that your customers are going to give you. We’re not doomed and they are going to be making decisions about strategy and expenditure because they have to. And they also need to invest in making themselves more competitive to ensure that they emerge from the effects of the recession with maximum velocity.

There will be however, sectors that are hit pretty hard. We know that public sector and higher education budgets have to be slashed, departments shrunk and we believe the cuts will be deeper than anyone has come close to admitting to in the run-up to the election. If you’re heavily invested in public sector areas other than defence, security and intelligence, you’d be well-advised to consider diversification if you haven’t done so already.

The flip-side to the coin is that now is the time where you can establish some great relationships that pay huge dividends in the future. Doing the right thing by your customers that are having a tough time now will be well regarded in the future. One would hope anyway!

One thing’s for sure. We need to vote for our ourselves and our own businesses to ensure we’re as strong as we can be. Nobody else will doing it for us!

If you need help refining your go to market strategy or maximising your business potential, ACQUIRE is only a click or two away".

Let's all take heart from having a new government in place that appears determined to implement change for the better. I for one shall press ahead with renewed vigour and I hope you will do the same.

Thanks for stopping by.

There's always a better way....

Hello Everyone. As a relatively new blogger I'll be using this site to talk about business ventures and topics as well as leisure pursuits and interests. All the while, the main themes will be about how to get motivated and to stay that way, being stimulated by what we do on a daily basis and accelerating our success and progress in our chosen adventures.

I'll also be taking the liberty of introducing you to some of my business interests and those of my business partners and rest assured that they will stay true to the above themes.

I look forward to a lively exchange of articles and comments. And as this is a blog, please DO comment as feedback is invaluable in ensuring that I'm keep producing interesting and informative content.

Thanks for stopping by.