Although I’m not a sports fan, I can well imagine the recent pressure on the Blue Bombers football coach. He’s critical to creating team spirit. The players and crowds count on him. I also admire those dedicated parents who brave both weather and early morning schedules to coach teams of bright-eyed but uncoordinated youngsters.

Coaching has become standard practice in our society today. Athletes dreaming of elite sports train with the best coach. Entertainers use coaching to refine their skills. Fitness enthusiasts work with a personal trainer. Politicians hire media coaches and parents actively volunteer as coaches. So, why not a business or career coach?

According to news reports, this is the most difficult business environment in over thirty years. Employees, management and business owner’s alike feel overwhelmed. Performance goals conflict with economic conditions. The pressure to move faster, produce more with less and meet multiple deadlines drains personal energy and spirit. It’s time to call in a business coach.

Business coaching is an individualized, confidential, fee based service that focuses on your personal and professional goals, skills, and abilities. A business coach with extensive expertise and experience can assist you to look at the world in a different way. Coaches provide you with an objective sounding board and a safe place to discuss work related problems, business or personal actions. The service goes beyond simply providing information; it enables you to develop a strong supportive relationship with someone who can assist you with developing new tools and strategies.

But, if you’re like me, it’s hard to ask for help. After all, as a successful professional, you should be able to handle your own problems! Right? Not so! A business coach who has been there, done that, can help you to get the fresh perspective you need. A business coach can help if you are:

• An entrepreneur who wants to focus attention on vision and strategy or has issues and challenges that can’t be shared with employees.
• A senior executive who needs a sounding board on high level challenges.
• An individual who has reached the top of their career ladder and is frustrated by “what next?
• A woman professional who wants to prepare for the next career step and break through the elusive “glass ceiling”.
• A technical professional who is moving to a new leadership role and wishes to identify and build upon their skills.
• An employee who is feeling isolated and is fearful of jeopardizing their career by sharing insecurities and concerns with internal managers or colleagues.
• An individual, (employee, manager, owner) who knows there is a problem but they can’t define it or wants career development advice.

But who are these business coaches? What are their qualifications? Professional business coaching is a relatively new and growing profession so rather than focusing on academic credentials, it’s best to look for the following key skills:

• Senior level experience –Someone who understands decision making in complex organizations and can help build the necessary skills to meet the most challenging of objectives.
• High level technical or generalist expertise – A professional with extensive experience in problem solving within their field and who will give solid feedback on your ideas.
• Big picture, out of the box thinking – A strategist who can help identify the future consequences of your actions and plan your business or career accordingly.
• Political sensitivity - A mobilizer who understands power relationships, can quickly identify potential problems, teach you to improve your networking and create support for your ideas.
• Confidentiality and integrity – Someone who is experienced in resolving confidential and sensitive issues and is prepared to help you tackle problems head on.
• Interpersonal savvy – A professional with excellent communication skills who can assist you without being
• condescending.
• Quick learner – A professional who is intellectually sharp and can quickly understand the issues you face.
• Professional courage – A coach who is frank with their feedback and will confront you with necessary corrective action.

Business coaching is a fee based service not unlike management consulting, so the question to be asked is, “are you ready and willing to work with a business coach?” Perhaps a review of the following statements will help to determine your answer.

• You’ve exhausted your own solutions and continue to be frustrated because a problem has not been effectively resolved.
• It is your job to fix it and time is of the essence.
• You are prepared to openly share your private thoughts, and receive and accept criticism on previous actions without being defensive.
• You are prepared to take an honest look at who you are, accept your strengths and weaknesses and implement a plan to develop your skills.
• You hold a positive perspective on your ability to learn new strategies and skills and believe that seeking coaching services doesn’t mean you are weak.
• You tend not to overestimate your abilities or deflect blame to others around you.
• You are willing to complete whatever homework assignments the coach recommends and to have it ready for each appointment.
• You are prepared to spend the time, energy and resources to work through a series of coaching sessions rather than expecting your problems to be resolved with a one-time, quick meeting.

Where do you find a business coach? Tap into your network. Look for a recently retired senior executive or someone between assignments. Or, seek out a human resource consultant who provides professional coaching. But don’t hesitate. Remember, great leaders, elite athletes and famous entertainers have all used coaches on their road to success. So can you.