Train to Develop Your Business Like an Athlete
Image via WikipediaI wanted to draw a comparison with the major international sporting event that takes place every four years and most recently in that Asian country that starts with a “C”. But the governing legal-begals will hunt me down if I use the ‘O’ word, so I will not use it.
Business is Like a Sporting Event?
I see a lot of similarities between professional sport and business. Athletes train for years in the hope of achieving their best personal performance and winning a major competition or international sporting event (like the one that happens every four years and begins with the letter ‘O’).
The big difference between sports and business is that business owners have to bring their best game everyday.
The big advantage athletes have is they have a tradition of training. It gives them an opportunity to identify areas for improvement, learn new skills, and then practice what they have learned.
As entrepreneurs and business owners I think we could make a substantial difference in performance by modeling our training using a sports metaphor.
Why Athletes Have a Coach
Left to their own devices most athletes fall back on what they know and do what they have always done. The problem with that is that it may not be enough to win. What a coach does is help them tap into that potential and develop beyond what they initially believed.
The reason that coaching works is because the coach has a combination of technical knowledge, understanding of the game, and a vision of the athletes potential which allows them to create a unique training program to expand the capabilities and potential of the athlete. Over a period of time the coach consistently raises expectations, continues to develop new skills, and helps an athlete to expand their vision for success.
Unfortunately there are very few opportunities to ‘practice and train’ for business. Yes, there are business schools but generally most schools are not able to offer a hands-on, real world business experience.
Business Performance Coaching Increases Effectiveness
Business Performance Coaching fills the gap for business owners by providing an environment where personal and business skills can be nurtured, developed and tested. It is a place where you can learn new business skills, train, and develop new ideas without wasting large amounts of money and losing precious time. The areas included are:
Effective business coaching is the COMBINATION of teaching business fundamentals and strategies, as well as teaching personal effectiveness fundamentals! Business expertise (consulting) works for some, but NEGLECTS the personal effectiveness side NEEDED for effective implementation and long-term growth. Traditional coaching works for some, but neglects the business fundamentals NEEDED for effective implementation and long-term growth!
Duality of Purpose
This is where my approach to coaching business owners is dramatically different - because I coach to increase both personal (business owner) and business effectiveness and the the impact can be significant (visit, Business Model with Examples to learn more)
Focusing on one area alone may or may not generate increased performance a.k.a. more profits for you. However, focusing on several different areas, setting up systems to ensure that new strategies are employed every day, and monitoring your results for future strategic initiatives can have a HUGE impact on your bottom line.
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