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Month: November 2024

How Business Coaching in Calgary is Helping Entrepreneurs Scale Faster

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by Kent Boehm

The challenge of business growth in 2024 and 2025 appears to be a topic of concern as so many founders find it hard to expand their businesses. Help by means of business coaching has become very essential especially for the Calgary based businesses. Professional, experienced  business coach can provide targeted support, strategies, and accountability as to the steps required in order to accomplish clear measurable objectives for a business. This article will discuss how business coaching in Calgary is assisting its entrepreneurs to achieve top growth by ensuring proper business alignment, developing leadership skills and achieving amazing profitability.

Business Coaching as an Economic Driver of Business in Calgary

Calgary has a diverse business community including startup companies and other small businesses as well as large companies. Business coaching is the practice of hiring a professional business coach to take the business owner through a series of coaching sessions that seek to align the business to its goals, diagnose the problem and offer practical solutions. The overall objective of business coaching is to guarantee that the business managers are capable of recording tangible business progress in terms of profits as well as efficiency.

Business coaches also help managers change towards compliance with international organizational standards and introduce more effective business strategies. Whether you are just starting out or are already a business owner who is running a business with great sales, getting an experienced coach in Calgary gives the direction and discipline in scaling a business.

5 Key Benefits of Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs

  1. Tailored Strategic Planning
    A certified business coach helps entrepreneurs develop customized strategies based on their unique goals and market conditions. In Calgary, coaches work closely with their clients to align these strategies with the competitive landscape in Alberta and across Western Canada. Business coaching often starts with an in-depth consultation where the coach assesses the business’s current state, identifies weaknesses, and recommends areas for growth. The tailored nature of this service ensures that entrepreneurs are not following generic advice but are equipped with a strategic action plan that drives results.
  2. Leadership Development and Team Alignment
    Leadership is critical to scaling a business. Business coaching focuses on leadership development, enabling business owners and executives to enhance their leadership skills and inspire their teams effectively. Whether it’s improving communication, decision-making, or team engagement, executive coaching provides the framework for leaders to grow and lead their organizations with confidence.Additionally, business coaches help align leadership teams within the organization, ensuring everyone is working toward common goals. This alignment fosters a stronger corporate culture and boosts productivity, helping businesses in Calgary thrive even in competitive markets.
  3. Accountability and Measurable Results
    One of the most significant advantages of working with a business coach is the accountability they bring. Entrepreneurs often have great ideas but struggle with implementation. A business coach ensures that business owners stay on track by setting clear, measurable goals and holding them accountable for achieving these milestones. This helps create a focus on results, leading to measurable growth in revenue, profit, and overall business success.
  4. Improved Time Management and Work-Life Balance
    Many entrepreneurs face challenges with time management, balancing the demands of their business with personal life. Business coaching helps entrepreneurs streamline operations and implement time management strategies, ensuring they are making the best use of their time. Coaches also emphasize the importance of work-life balance, helping business owners avoid burnout while growing their companies sustainably.
  5. Innovation and Problem-Solving
    Business coaching fosters innovation by helping entrepreneurs think strategically about their business challenges and potential solutions. Calgary’s business coaches encourage their clients to adopt new approaches, improve business processes, and resolve issues proactively. Through coaching sessions, entrepreneurs learn how to innovate and improve productivity, ultimately leading to a more profitable and sustainable business.

4 ways Business coaching services assist the Entrepreneurs to grow their businesses

Calgary business coaches provide a variety of coaching services tailored according to the needs of each client. Forums to develop leadership skills are ranging from group sessions, group leadership training, one on one business coaching sessions. Consultation services in Calgary are also provided by coaches, which are aimed at harmonizing the direction of business development with strategic planning.

Here’s how business coaching services help businesses scale faster:

Actionable Frameworks: Coaches give entrepreneurs a well-defined plan that can be adopted in the scaling of an organization’s activities. Business coaches provide the tangible blueprints for change regardless if it’s developing a strategy map and action plan or transitioning to a new business mode.

Boosting Profitability: A business coach has the intently set goal of getting profitable results. Business coaches assist the business people to discover areas that they are not performing optimally, reduce costs within the organizations and ultimately increase more revenues generated through effective operations. In this way, comprehensive focus on key aspects of the business and prediction of its future development helps business coaches to guarantee business owners’ opportunities of increasing the company’s profitability both in the short-run and long-run perspective.

Strengthening Leadership Teams: Coaches based in Calgary offer support to leadership teams so that they are prepared to lead growth. This includes the review and strengthening of team issues, collaboration and leadership throughout the organization.

Creating Long-Term Impact: In fact, business coaching is not only a way of getting quick results. Calgary business mentors assist business owners in developing sustainable business solutions that will give lasting results. This vision helps assure that businesses can grow ad remain viable and strong in a constantly evolving economy.

How to Select the Best Business Coach in Calgary

Looking for a business coach in Calgary may not be very easy hence should be done well. Business owners should seek accredited business coaches with good records performing their coaching activities. This means that it is critical for an entrepreneur to get a coach who complies with the conditions with the regional market and provides the knowledge of the requirements for conducting business in Calgary.

A business coach who offers a combination of coaching services and consulting services can be particularly valuable, as they bring both advisory and practical implementation expertise. Look for a coach who specializes in the specific areas where your business needs improvement, whether that’s leadership development, business growth, or strategic planning.

Conclusion

Business coaching in Calgary is a powerful tool for entrepreneurs who want to scale their businesses faster. By working with certified business coaches, entrepreneurs can receive customized guidance, develop actionable strategies, and achieve measurable results. From leadership development to strategic alignment, business coaching offers a comprehensive solution that enables entrepreneurs to grow their businesses sustainably and profitably. With the right business coach in Calgary, entrepreneurs can unlock their full potential and take their businesses to new heights.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to grow an established enterprise, business coaching services in Calgary can provide the support and accountability you need to achieve your goals.

Who are the Best Business Coaches in Calgary, Alberta?

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by Kent Boehm

Looking for a high-quality business coach in Calgary, Alberta? With so many options, it can be challenging to find the right coach for your business and budget. While Google reviews and rating sites offer some insights, it’s essential to remember that business coaching isn’t one-size-fits-all. In today’s world, experience and longevity are important factors to consider—coaches who have “stood the test of time” often offer valuable perspective.

At Nine Business Group, we meet with hundreds of business owners each year, discussing their businesses, goals, and challenges. While we offer a wide range of services to support entrepreneurs, we recognize that our solutions aren’t always the right fit for everyone.

Over the years, many clients have asked for our opinions on other coaches in the area. This inspired me to write the article, What to Consider When Hiring a Business Coach. Each business and owner is unique, as is each Coach with their own perspectives, stories and experiences to draw upon, so take the time to find the right coach for you.

As you begin your search for a business coach, I suggest you first define your goals, objectives, budget, and key frustrations. Once you have clarity, you’ll be better equipped to vet potential coaches. Feel free to read my article, What to Consider When Hiring a Business Coach for further insights.

To help guide you, I want to share a few coaches in Calgary who have stood the test of time and offer unique value:

Richard Burley

Richard has studied under legends like Zig Ziglar and Jim Rohn, which speaks to his depth of experience. He is the most seasoned coach I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Although he is semi-retired, Richard still works with select clients on special projects. He splits his time between Calgary and Costa Rica, where he’s involved in a development project for Canadians seeking second homes in warmer climates.

Lori McIntosh

Lori recently relocated to Calgary and expanded her executive coaching practice here. She specializes in helping clients solve staffing challenges and enhance their leadership skills. Lori is particularly passionate about the venture capital space, where she not only invests money but also brings valuable leadership expertise to businesses.

Chris Jones

I had the privilege of meeting Chris a few years ago, and he graciously shared his time and insights with us. You can watch his interview on YouTube here. Chris, a former professional athlete, a successful entrepreneur, is now a certified EOS Implementer.  As a seasoned entrepreneur, Chris knows his way around business-building and crisis recovery.  He now focuses all his energy on working with family-focused entrepreneurs to create game-changing transformations.

Marty Park

Marty is a long-time friend and played a key role in my journey to becoming a business coach. We met in 2006 through a mutual friend while I was transitioning careers. Marty was generous with his time and experience, which made a lasting impact on me. His current focus is helping established companies looking to scale and grow to next level.  He remains active in the business community and has recently expanded his efforts to support entrepreneurs throughout Canada, US and UK.

MacKay CEO Forums

Founded by Dr. Nancy MacKay 17 years ago.  Nancy founded Mackay CEO Forums after seeing first hand the tremendous value of having CEOs come together to learn from each other, and to help each other deal with their toughest issues and challenges.  MacKay CEO Forums has become a prominent coaching business. While based in Vancouver, her team serves business owners across Western Canada, including Calgary. McKay CEO Forums focuses on group / peer to peer coaching and board-level advisory for businesses generating over $5 million in annual revenue.

In Closing

This is just a small list of local coaches I have had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with over the years from all over the world.  I don’t have the time to list every person, every coach I have had the privilege of learning from and spending time with.  However I would like to say a special note of appreciation for Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar, the “grandfathers” of personal development, without them the world of Business Coaching would not exist.  Thank you to Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth Revisited, the quintessential first ever Business Coach.  There have been many, many great people who have stood the test time and written many books that I have learned from that have made my career and life a possibility.  Lastly, Thank You to Brad Sugars, the founder of ActionCOACH, who has been leading the way for over 31 years and now in 80+ countries around the world in over 1100 offices.

Go win, go succeed.  Take action and find the right Business Coach for you and your business.

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Right Small Business Coach in Calgary

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by Kent Boehm

Running a small business in Calgary is no easy feat. Entrepreneurs often face challenges related to growth, strategy, and operations that can hinder their progress. This is where professional coaching services come in—a professional who can provide guidance, advice, and practical solutions to help you achieve your business goals and take your business to the next level.

Finding the right business coach is crucial to unleashing the full potential of your business. The right coach will not only provide expertise but will also understand your unique needs and challenges.

Business coaching is an industry that is well over 30 years old and may even unofficially be over 40 years old, with 20% to 35% of business owners using a coach. While many are familiar with the term “business coach,” not everyone knows how business coaching works, how it can benefit them, or what needs to be considered when hiring one.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of choosing the perfect business coach, from understanding their role to evaluating their qualifications and ensuring compatibility.

Understanding the Importance of a Business Coach

The Role of a Business Coach in Your Success

A business coach plays a vital role in helping you grow your business and achieve business success. They provide objective insights, help you overcome obstacles, and hold you accountable to your goals. By offering fresh perspectives and proven strategies, a coach empowers you to make informed decisions that propel your business forward.

Benefits of Working with a Business Coach Calgary

  • Objective Feedback: Coaches offer unbiased advice, helping you see areas of improvement that may be difficult to spot on your own.
  • Strategic Planning: Coaches assist with long-term planning and goal setting, ensuring your vision aligns with business success.
  • Increased Accountability: They keep you on track by regularly checking in on progress and offering guidance when you hit roadblocks and enhance business productivity.

Assessing Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Before you start searching for a coach, take time to assess your own strengths and weaknesses. Are you struggling with time management? Are you struggling with profitability? Do you need help scaling your business? Understanding your specific challenges will help you find a coach who can address them effectively.

Determining Your Goals and Objectives

Define clear goals and objectives for your coaching relationship. Whether you’re aiming to increase revenue, improve team dynamics, develop best practices or leadership coaching skills, knowing what you want to achieve will help you find a coach who specializes in those areas.

Exploring Different Coaching Styles

Not all business coaches operate in the same way. Understanding the different types of coaching available will help you find a match that suits your needs.

Executive Coaching

Executive coaches focus on leadership development and high-level decision-making. They’re ideal if you want to coach leaders or need help with managing a growing team.

Small Business Coaching

A small business coach specializes in addressing the unique challenges faced by smaller companies, such as financial management, marketing, and operations. This coaching is especially relevant if you’re focused on scaling and fine-tuning your processes to take your business to the next level and achieve remarkable growth.

One-on-one coaching

One-to-one coaching offers personalized guidance, disc report, tailored to your specific needs. It’s ideal for business owners looking for detailed attention to particular issues such as growth strategies or overcoming turnover challenges.

Team Coaching

If your business struggles with internal communication or teamwork, a group coaching approach can help improve collaboration, resolve conflicts, and foster a more productive work environment, ultimately improving overall business performance.

Small Group Coaching

The addition of small group coaching over the years has been a great adaptation for entrepreneurs looking to benefit from coaching. Small Group Coaching places 3-6 entrepreneurs into a group; they all benefit from the frequency and cadence of a weekly program, all while benefiting from the reduced fee.

Finding Potential Small Business Coaches in Calgary

Once you’ve determined your needs, the next step is to find potential coaches who fit your criteria.

Online Resources

The internet is a wonderful place to start your search. Websites like LinkedIn, coaching directories, coaching programs, and coaching session reviews can provide detailed profiles of professionals.

Networking

Attend local business events, seminars, or networking groups in Alberta to meet coaches in person. Word of mouth is often one of the best ways to find a coach who is well-regarded in every industry and trusted within your local community.

Referrals

Ask fellow entrepreneurs or business owners for recommendations. Referrals from people you trust can lead you to coaches with proven strategies for success who have had a positive impact on their businesses.

Evaluating Business Coaches

Once you have a list of potential coaches, it’s time to evaluate them based on key criteria.

Fun

First and foremost, your relationship with your coach should be fun. Business ownership should be enjoyable, and since we spend so much time thinking about and at work, working in our businesses, the relationship with your coach should also be enjoyable.

Financially Beneficial

What is the plan to “find the fee”? A coach should demonstrate strategies that will increase your revenue and profit in the short and long term to cover their fee. If a prospective coach cannot demonstrate these strategies and timelines, do not hire them.

A strong, competent, and experienced business coach should improve your profit by at least their fee within 4 to 6 months of starting the engagement. For example, if the typical fee is $3,000 per month, your business should see this increase in profit.

Once the “initial fee” is covered, the next profit layer should be a minimum of 5:1 ROI in the first 12–18 months and then a 10:1 ROI. For instance, if the coaching fee is $36,000 per year, there should be a $360,000 per year improvement in profit or equivalent benefit to the organization.

It is also critical that the coach provide a plan to track the results of the program.

Faster Results

Simply put, will you and your business achieve the same or greater results faster than you would without using a coach?

Guarantee

Does the prospective coach guarantee results? With over 30 years in the industry, there are proven methods and strategies to help you achieve your goals. If a prospective coach cannot offer a guarantee, keep looking.

Expertise & Experience

Caveat Emptor, let the buyer beware. You have no excuse for not finding and working with an experienced business coach. In an industry older than Google, Facebook, and social media, you need a coach with a proven track record. Consider the prospective coach’s industry knowledge, track record, and relevant certifications and credentials.

Hours Learning Per Year

Hours spent learning are crucial for many reasons. The top reason is whether the business coach dedicates time each year to learning and studying all things related to business coaching and their area of expertise. This includes attending conferences, staying updated on marketing strategies, leadership, management, financial knowledge, industry trends, and improving communication skills.

Another reason to assess a prospective coach’s free time learning is that the coaching world is easy to enter, with many calling themselves “business coaches” without ongoing education. Ensure your coach is committed to continuous learning.

Another way to assess expertise and experience is by reputation. Look for online reviews, testimonials, and client success stories to gain insight into the coach’s effectiveness, style, and impact.

Long-Term Support

A successful business coaching relationship can last for several years. Ask how the prospective coach handles and works with their clients throughout various growth stages, both business and personal. Does the coach provide other resources or expect you to source all the necessary tools? Additionally, does the coach have access to a network of other professionals to support your needs?

Coaching Style and Approach

The coaching style of the prospective coach should not be discernible by you. A great coach will adjust their style to make you feel welcome, heard, and understood. They should switch between the communication style you like and the one you need. A successful coaching relationship is about what you need to achieve your vision and goals.

Communication Skills

Effective communication skills are essential. Evaluate the coach’s ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and understandably. Their listening skills are equally important—assess their ability to hear what you say and rephrase it in a way that reflects your words, feelings, and intentions. Constructive and actionable feedback is vital. The coach should provide insights that challenge you and offer actionable strategies and direction.

Personal Development

This is the most important aspect of your relationship with a business coach. Most entrepreneurs seek a business coach to solve a problem, overcome an obstacle, and achieve business objectives like revenue targets, sales goals, or profit improvements. To change your business results, you must change. A coach’s job is to grow your mindset, leadership skills, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and other critical decision-making skills so you can continue to grow and scale your business and the people around you.

By carefully considering these factors, you can find a business coach well-suited to help you achieve your business goals and foster your growth as a business leader.

Qualifications and Credentials

Check whether the coach has relevant certifications or credentials from reputable coaching organizations. A certified coach will have the necessary training to help you achieve your business goals.

Chemistry and Compatibility

Your relationship with a coach is built on trust and communication. During an initial consultation, assess whether you feel comfortable and understood by the coach. 1-on-1 business coaching requires strong compatibility to be effective and deliver results.

Conclusion

Finding the right business coach is essential for every business to achieve remarkable growth and gain clarity. By understanding your goals, exploring different coaching styles, and evaluating coaches based on their qualifications, experience, and compatibility, you can ensure a productive coaching relationship.

Take the time to research and connect with potential coaches. The right coach will not only guide you but also empower you to achieve your goals and grow your business with confidence and success in today’s competitive business landscape.

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