You’ve just returned from a networking event where you learned that a colleague recently hired a life coach. They told you all about the experience, and it seemed to be a good one. It led you to wonder:”Do I need a life coach?” The more you think of it, the more you’d like to have someone on your side, coaching you through your journey. But you’re not quite sure it’s right for you.

We talked with Jenni Schubring, life coach and speaker, to identify what small business owners can gain from working with someone, how it differs from hiring a business coach, and how to determine if a life coach is the right fit for you. Here’s what she had to say.

Do I Need a Life Coach?

As a small business owner, you’re the heart of your business, whether you’re a solopreneur or have a large staff. You wear all the hats. You work early mornings and late nights. You also determine how much risk you’re willing to take to grow your business. Unless you have a business partner, you’re left bearing the weight of all that responsibility.

Wouldn’t it be nice to partner with someone who can help you determine your strengths and weaknesses? They can help you plan to use this knowledge more in your business – and life – so you can work towards your goals and achieve more.

Schubring explains it by saying, “Small business owners throw everything they have into their businesses. If any part of their life is ‘off’ it can — and will — affect their business. A life coach will address the whole person helping them get from where they are to where they want to be.”

She continues, “People see life through their own lens. That lens is usually tinted by life events. A life coach is an expert in helping people become more self-aware. This is such an important skill as a small business owner because our intent can be misunderstood. Those misunderstandings can be detrimental to our business. We can’t fix what we don’t know. A life coach will speak truth when it’s hard to hear. A life coach will help you see a more accurate picture of your reality.”

But, Wait. Why Not Hire a Business Coach?

Business coaches have their purpose for sure! Schubring says, “A business coach’s focus is on the business and performance. They will give you action steps on how to step up your business and help you meet your business goals.”

She then explains how the two fields differ, and says, “A life coach focuses on the whole person and the coachee’s personal development. A life coach’s process is to work on the coachee as a whole so they can better impact their world, which also includes their business.”

For example, when working with a new client, Schubring might start off with a personal assessment. She says, “My personal favorite is the Gallup Strengths Finder. This tool, and others like them, can help small business owners uncover a personal awareness that can lead to positive change.”

She then shares in more detail, “We know that to have a good business we need to have good relationships. It is important to recognize how we interact with others. We can then make the appropriate changes to positively impact those relationships. While the results of these assessments can help with that personal awareness, having [someone] walk you through the results and teach you how to apply them is a powerful piece that could be missed without a coach.”

How Can Business Owners Find the Right Life Coach?

If you’re wondering, “Do I need a life coach?”, the best approach to finding that answer is to interview life coaches and see how those meetings make you feel. Schubring recommends starting your search by looking for a life coach who is licensed or certified. In addition to that, she says that finding someone who feels “right” is so important, too. But how do you know when there’s a match?

Schubring says, “Find that out by taking coaches up on their free discovery calls, follow them on social media, watch their videos. Do the research. I also highly recommend making sure your life coach has their own life coach. We need to walk the talk.”

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