While the industry is the fastest growing business category behind Information Technology, it is often confused with traditional sales training or business consulting.
However, with an emphasis on probing questions, owner accountability and a generalist approach to business challenges, business coaching has carved out a unique and helpful niche for companies looking for business advice and mentorship – and one that produces tremendous results.
“Coaching is a process unlike any other,” ActionCOACH CEO Brad Sugars said. “Once owners are willing to participate in coaching and they see the benefits, they discover it is one of the best investments they have ever made.”
Although much as been written about the benefits of business coaching, Sugars says success stories from different industry categories are harder to find – a fact that has led his company to focus more on the end results achieved by ActionCOACH clients.
“Testimonials are so important and as an industry I don’t think we’ve been real good about promoting the kinds of results owners and their companies have gained from coaching,” he says. “I know our focus moving forward will be more oriented to the results our coaches around the world have produced for people.”
Sugars notes a Business Coach needs to produce results in a business or that coach won’t be successful.
“If an owner doesn’t start to see results in six to twelve weeks, that owner is not going to have a coach very long,” he says. “The coach has to produce results – or the owner won’t see a benefit. We like to say we are aiming to ‘find our fee’ in a business in a matter of weeks – so as the relationship progresses the coaching is essentially free.”
From graphic design companies who have turned their operations around to heavy equipment companies and construction companies, coaching has produced results in virtually every kind of business in every category in dozens of countries around the world.
“I own and operate a small mechanical workshop in Perth, and have been working with ActionCOACH for about a year,” Auto Masters Malaga owner Warren D’Cruz says. “Before I started working with ActionCOACH, our profits were very minimal. Today our turnover is more than 175% higher and our profit has increased by more than 400%, and both are still increasing.”
D’Cruz adds he highly recommends the coaching process.
“Coaching is great for any business owners who are looking to improve their business.”
For Middletown, PA-based business owner Julie Wilson, the results have been equally gratifying.
“During our first year with ActionCOACH, my sales increased more than 100% and my staff more than tripled – from seven to 24 employees,” she says. “We are a totally new and different company than we were just two years ago.”
The results aren’t surprising to Sugars, although they may be to other owners.
“Some of our best clients were the most skeptical,” he says. “They definitely have a ‘show me’ attitude, and fortunately for us, we have great coaches who are also business people who do just that. It’s a huge win for us – but it’s a bigger win for the business and the owners.”
For more information on the ActionCOACH success stories, visit http://www.actionspeakslouderthanwords.com/
