How can a business coach help me with goal setting?

It’s crucial to the growth of every business. Just look at the most successful companies on the planet, they all have goals. We coach hundreds of businesses every year and something we get asked regularly is how can a business coach help me with goal setting?

As mentioned, when it comes to running a successful business, goal setting is key. But it can be overwhelming to navigate on your own. That’s where a business coach can come in handy. A coach can help you not only set your goals but also create a plan to achieve them and hold you accountable for taking the necessary action along the way.

How can I start goal setting and what help might I need from a business coach?

When it comes to setting goals, it’s super important to start with the end in mind. Think about it like planning a trip – if you don’t know where you’re headed, how are you going to get there?

Starting with the end in mind helps you focus on what you really want to achieve, and gives you a clear destination to work towards. Plus, it makes it way easier to come up with a plan and stay motivated when you know exactly what you’re working towards. It’s like having a GPS for your life or business. It keeps you on track and helps you avoid any unnecessary detours.

It might mean that you need to get clear on what your “end in mind” is. We tend to call this your “north star”. If you don’t have a north star, then how do you know what to work towards? So spending the time and energy to get clear on what your north star is can be crucial.

Trust me, starting with the end in mind will make your goal-setting journey a lot more effective and enjoyable.

Do I need to be setting personal goals with a business coach?

Personal goals are just as important as business goals. Your personal goals can impact your business goals in a number of ways. For example, if your personal goal is to live in the Maldives, it can affect the way you manage your whole company. That might mean it alters who you hire next. It could also mean deciding who does what tasks in your business. Ultimately personal goals should dictate your business goals. Your business should be set up to give you more life. Rather than your life set up to run your business.

How do personal goals impact my business goals?

The two should really go hand in hand. Using the example above, if your personal goal was to live in the Maldives, then your business goals would need to create that reality. To live in the Maldives, your business might need to work without you. That means your business goal could be to increase turnover to a level that you could pay a general manager or CEO to run the whole company. It may also mean you need systems and processes that everyone in the business can follow. You might also need a strong finance manager that you can trust.

Basically, your personal goals come first. Then your business goals should help you accomplish your personal goals.

Being in business should give you more life.

How would you define a good goal?

There’s a big difference between setting good goals and poor goals. Good goals generally follow a key principle.

It’s called the SMART principle. That means that they are specific, and only clear goals have a chance of being accomplished. The M stands for “measurable” meaning we know when the goals are completed. For example, “more profit” isn’t measurable. Whereas 100% improvement in our profit is completely measurable. The A stands for attainable. Learning to fly unaided isn’t attainable and therefore is just setting you up for failure. The R stands for relevant. Your goals should be relevant to whatever your “north star” is and whatever it is your trying to achieve. They shouldn’t be disconnected from where you’re trying to go. Finally, we have the T which stands for time-based. Your goal should have a time stamp and an end date.

Bad goals work against that principle. For example “I want my time back” is an awful goal. As is “I want to lose weight”. Most people set those goals because they don’t know what else to set, there’s no real purpose or desire behind them. When you are clear on your north star or biggest dreams, setting goals is easy. The goals should be a step towards accomplishing your north star. The reason “I want to lose weight” is such an awful goal is that it doesn’t follow the SMART principle. It’s not specific (how much weight) nor is it measurable. It’s attainable but not relevant to your biggest dream. Finally, it doesn’t have a time stamp so there’s no pressure to get going with it.

How can a business coach help me with goal setting?

With that particular goal (losing weight) you could just apply those SMART principles. As long as the goal is moving you toward your north star (which it could be if your north star was to appear in a Hollywood film that required you to be slimmer and smaller) then the SMART principle can work.

To make it specific AND measurable, define how much weight you want to lose. For example, I want to lose 7 pounds. Then put a date on it, for example “by March 31st”. Now the goal would read “I want to lose 7 pounds by March 31st so I stand a chance of landing the big role in the new Hollywood film.”

Compare that to “I want to lose weight” and you’ll start seeing the difference between a bad and a good goal.

How do I make it a great goal?

Great goals basically take a good goal and stretch it. A great goal has 3 components.

Firstly, it’s outrageous. A great goal is something that the majority of the population wouldn’t dream of setting. It’s something that’s scary, and huge, and get’s your juices flowing.

Secondly, it’s courageous. A great goal becomes great because it causes you to be brave. That doesn’t mean a lack of fear. It means carrying on despite fear. If it’s outrageous enough, there’s a good chance you’ll need the courage to complete it.

Finally, a great goal is transformative. You don’t set great, big, outrageous, courageous goals for what you’ll get, you set them for who you’ll become on route. It’s got to be something that you’ve not got the skills or characteristics to achieve right now. It’s got to be something that forces you to learn and become more. That’s the ultimate purpose of great goals.

If you’re not comfortable there, that’s ok, set good goals instead. Everyone has a different tolerance and not everyone wants to chase a big hairy goal. But either way, make sure you have a goal, then make sure it’s either good or great.

Can I set goals without a coach?

Yes, you can set goals without a coach. Setting goals is a personal process and you can definitely do it on your own. As long as you followed the two frameworks mentioned (1. Business goals moving you towards your personal goal and north star, and 2. the SMART framework).

How can a business coach help me with goal setting?

A coach can provide valuable support and guidance throughout the process. Having a coach can increase your chances of success. The coach can help you identify your goals, create a plan to achieve them, and hold you accountable along the way. They can also provide valuable insights and perspectives, as well as help you navigate any obstacles that may arise.

That being said, it’s ultimately up to you whether or not you choose to work with a coach. If you decide to set goals on your own, make sure to start with the end in mind. It’s also worth sticking to the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound) when setting your goals, it will make it more likely to achieve them.

What if I’ve never set goals before?

But what if you’ve never set goals before? Or what if you’re an expert at setting goals but need help creating a plan to achieve them? This is where a coach comes in. A coach can help you identify your goals, create a plan to achieve them, and then challenge you to make sure you are taking regular action on the plan.

If you want to set goals and you don’t feel comfortable doing it solo, using a coach or joining a goal-setting workshop can be really valuable. If you don’t want to do that, you can even jump on YouTube or Google to find a coaching framework and set them on your own.

It’s a personal choice but there are lots of options. You can use a coach, go to a planning event, do it yourself, or set goals with a friend or colleague. The opportunities are endless.

What if I’m an expert at setting goals?

Hey, if you’re happy and comfortable doing it on your own, then go get ’em!

We’ve met some great goal setters over the years and if you feel comfortable and prefer riding solo then hell yes it’s ok to set goals on your own.

A few things to consider, even if you’re an expert.

As an expert at setting goals, you may already have a good understanding of the goal-setting process and know how to create effective and realistic goals. But even experts can benefit from the support and guidance of a coach.

A coach can provide an outside perspective, give you new insights and strategies, and help you identify potential blind spots or areas where you can improve. They can also help you stay motivated and accountable, which is important in achieving your goals. On top of that, a coach can help you align your personal and business goals, so you can achieve a more balanced life.

Also, working with a coach can be a great way to continue learning and growing as a goal-setter. Even the best in the world continue to learn and work on themselves. A good coach can provide new information, resources, and strategies that could improve your current knowledge and skills.

In summary, you can definitely go for it on your own, but even if you’re an expert at setting goals, working with a coach can provide additional benefits. Some of those could be things like new perspectives, accountability, and new strategies.

How much do coaches charge to help set goals?

It can vary depending on the coach and the services they offer. Some coaches charge by the hour, while others offer package deals. It’s important to do your research and find a coach that fits your budget and needs.

How much does an Action business coach charge to help me with goal setting?

Here at Action Coach, your first goal-setting session is free. We run them once every quarter in the North West. You’ll get together with between 50 and 100 other business owners and set business goals that move you toward your personal goals.

We also have one of these events available to book so you can check out our events page here or find a detailed overview and agenda of what happens on our goal-setting days by clicking here.

Once you’ve had your first session, you can join one of our memberships and get the goal-setting session included. All of our programmes include our 90-day planning workshop because we see it as critical to business success.

If you want to take a look at our programmes (remember, 100% of them include the 90-day goal setting) then you can take a look here.

Do I need to carry on working with a coach when I’ve set my goals?

Whether or not you need to continue working with a coach once you’ve set your goals is a personal decision. A coach can provide guidance and support as you work towards your goals, but ultimately, it is up to you to make the necessary changes and take the necessary actions to achieve them.

Some people may find that they need ongoing support and accountability to stay on track, while others may feel confident in their ability to make progress on their own.

Ultimately, it depends on your individual circumstances and the type of goals you have set for yourself.

How do I book a goal-setting session with a coach?

Booking a goal-setting session with a coach is a simple process. The first step is to find a coach that aligns with your needs and preferences. This can be done by searching online for coaches in your area, or by asking for recommendations from friends or colleagues.

Once you have found a coach that you are interested in working with, you can contact them to schedule a consultation or initial session. Many coaches offer the possibility to book a session through their website or by phone.

Some coaches may also offer virtual sessions via video conferencing or telephone calls. During the session, you will have the opportunity to discuss your goals and objectives, and the coach will help you to develop a plan of action to achieve them.

If you’d like to book a goal-setting session with Action Coach, you can either join our FREE 90-day planning event here or get in touch with us here if you prefer a full day in a 1-2-1 goal setting session (prices start from £1250+VAT for the 121 sessions).