Business Coach: Who they are and how they can help

The Practical Psychologist is reforming the bad reputation of executive and business coaches held in some quarters. Unfortunately, this unregulated practice is full of people lacking adequate training and experience in supporting others to achieve their professional goals. Add in some unnecessary jargon and bogus techniques, and it's little wonder why people are sceptical.

We provide an effective solution by offering only highly skilled practitioners with a background in clinical psychology and workplace performance. We work globally with high profile professionals and organisations. Our convenient online service allows people to access our staff from any location.

We each have years of experience working with staff, business owners, and entrepreneurs. You can meet our team here and learn more about our business coaching services.

This article defines business coaching, methods used, and how to find high-quality services.

What is business coaching?

We all understand the challenges of working in and running a business. Typically, coaches work in one of two areas:

• Advancing the performance and wellbeing of individuals and organisations through psychological and behaviour science

• Advancing core business metrics via experience in relevant roles (e.g., leadership, HR) and practice models.

The team at The Practical Psychologist are specialists in the first domain. Working with a business coach should involve the application of psychological theory and strategies for improved performance. The process should be clear, methodical and based on action plans rooted in behaviour science. This structured approach is required to realise the benefits of business coaching fully.

The specific approach will vary depending on the desired outcomes and coaching format (e.g., individual vs group intervention). The three main ways we work are:

• Providing a consultation service and intervention plan for team/organisation strengths and weaknesses

• Completing individual assessments and action plans for a specific problem and/or development goal

• Providing structured training to advanced key areas of organisational functioning (e.g., psychologically healthy organisations)

The focus of business coaching is often on the individual. But many successful businesses apply psychological strategies at the organisational level. For example, adequate work-life balance (fit) requires supporting organisational culture and policies (e.g., leaders modelling boundary setting).

Different approaches to business coaching

The type of coaching depends on the needs of the company or individual seeking assistance. Some clients prefer individual guidance. Other people may opt for general advice for a team. We cover issues ranging from performance anxiety and imposter syndrome to delegation hesitancy and procrastination.

Individual Coaching:

This format provides tailored assistance for an individual client focusing on specific problems or goals. This format provides a forum for more in-depth analysis and dedicated guidance tailored towards achieving results efficiently.

Group Workshops/Seminars:

Group training is ideal for companies looking to build skills across a team. This format can also help build a culture of psychological thinking and skill use. 

There is a shortage of good quality, evidence based interventions at individual and group levels. The Practical Psychologist is a point in difference. We bring science and data-based strategies to organisations and their employees.

See our Performance and Wellbeing Resource Centre for information on how we approach common workplace challenges. You can also find details of our Performance and Wellbeing Toolkit. This group-based training package brings psychological thinking and skills to your workplace.

How psychological theory can aid business coaching

Psychological theory can be a powerful tool when applied to business coaching. Understanding human behaviour can help coaches and clients to understand the underlying causes of workplace difficulties better.

Various areas of applied science can be applied to workplace performance and wellbeing. We adapt validated approaches to individual interventions (e.g., Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) to understand and respond to challenges. In addition, we apply work from other spheres, ranging from behaviour neuroscience to models of motivation.

At the group level, we apply well-tested principles from social and group psychology. We also utilise recent developments in creating psychologically healthy (and high-performing) organisations.

Business coaching is a complex area requiring an understanding of psychological theory and practical applications. Successful outcomes are more likely when this knowledge is directly applied to intervention.

How to find high-quality coaching services

These are the features of most high-quality coaching services:

• A solid background of formal training in psychology and behaviour science

• Extensive expertise working with the issues you bring to sessions

• Someone who takes a clear, structured approach to well-defined personal goals

• Someone with whom you can feel comfortable and form a good working relationship

• Successful life coaches know their limits. Look for someone who acknowledges this and refers you to alternative professionals where required (e.g., personal trainer, psychologist).

We believe our team provides a high-quality option for business coaching. The Practical Psychologist is available for a discussion of your needs. 

Book your free meet-and-greet/discovery call at any time. You can also meet the team or read from our extensive library of practical advice and strategies.