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Selecting the Right Business Coach for YOU

JESSICA OSWALD

MS, RDN, LD

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Working with a business coach is a huge decision that takes multiple factors into account� Time, money, effort and mental capacity are all required to create the space to work with a business coach� The hope is that there will be a return on the investment and this hope is why it’s very important to pick the right business coach� In my own journey as a nutrition entrepreneur, I’ve worked with two business coaches� Both were dietitians, which is what I wanted� Each had a different approach to business coaching� Each offered something different that helped move my business forward� With each business coach selection, I looked at a variety of coaches and here’s a peek into the process that I followed for selecting a coach�

First, what’s the current state of

your business? Maybe you're just starting out� Maybe you're looking at expanding and growing your business� Maybe you’re looking at moving into a different area� Perhaps you’re going from 1:1 counseling to group programs or getting credentialed with insurance� Maybe you’re good with the current state of your business but want to work on some specific areas to maximize your potential - like marketing or systems� No matter what the current state of your business is, taking time to reflect on where you are currently will help with your business coach search�

What do you need in a business

coach? The answers to that first question - what’s the current state of your business? - will help you answer this second question� If you’re just starting out, then it’s likely that you need a business coach who can help you with some business basics� If you’re looking at getting into insurance, then you probably need someone who has expertise with incorporating insurance into a business� You’ll also want to think about other things when it comes to what you need, like how you best grow and learn and the amount of time that you have to commit to working with a coach� What do you want in a business coach? Do you want a business coach who is also a dietitian? Do you want someone who has a lot of coaching experience or do you want someone who has a lot of experience in the areas in which you want the most support? Do you want someone who does a group coaching model or someone who does a 1:1 model? Search time. Now that you know what you want and need in a business coach, you can start looking for some coaches who meet your basic criteria� There are so many places that you can look - social media, LinkedIn, Google, talking to friends and colleagues� There’s a Facebook group called “Dietitian Business Coach Reviews” that helped with my search� Do your due diligence� Make sure that you research your potential coaches� Check their experience� Look into their knowledge-base� Read reviews� Speak with colleagues who have worked with the coaches you have selected� Make time to speak with a few coaches� Most coaches offer some type of discovery call or something that gives you the chance to ask them questions� Take advantage of this� Speaking to potential coaches is a great way to see if their personalities jive with your personality and see if their values align with yours� Trust your gut. As cliché as it sounds, if it doesn’t feel right, then it probably won’t work� You need to trust your business coach� You need to click with your business coach� Remember, a business coach is a major investment so it’s extremely important that you connect with your coach�

Jessica Oswald, MS, RDN/LD, is the owner of a private practice specializing in intuitive eating and meal planning� She’s also the clinical dietitian at a pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities� Jessica enjoys cooking, reading and training for the occasional half-marathon� She’s also a proud cat mom; ask her about that time she crawled under a car to rescue a kitten�