Just had an articled published in the training supplement (page 9) of Anglia Business - http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1nj8j/AngliaBusinessTraini/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acguk.co.uk%2F

During the Business Development Programme we encourage business owners to consider their own categories but have some suggested ones to get people started, these are: Motivation, Sales, Marketing, Business Networks, Resources, Finances, Product/Services and Business Planning.

We've found that it's important to define what the category means to you before scoring it. As our programme lasts a year it is not unusual for someone to think about a business area in a totally different way 12 months later. That is completely normal as every business evolves with time. Keeping a record of the changing definitions enables you to observe the progression made.

Being part of a group that you participate in, with people you respect and enjoy being around can be a really great experience. In business, it can help you broaden your networks and contacts and if the group shares a common focus or is well facilitated it gives you access to new ideas and a sounding board to discuss options. Being part of a focused peer group can also inspire and motivate you, which can be extremely useful in moving forward.

Choosing a coach or mentor is an important step and you need to spend time making sure that you have found the right person.  This needs to be someone you feel you could work with, someone you feel you can confide in and trust and someone who will challenge you in your thinking in a way that feels supportive rather than threatening.

A good question and one that provokes in me an instant answer of…none! It is the coaches job to ask questions and explore ideas, maybe even offer some alternative options but in my opinion it is never to provide any type of direction or solution. This needs to come from the person being coached, they need to identify it and want it for themselves. A skilled coach will ask the right questions and use the right tools in assisting a client but ultimately it is the client that pulls all the coaching threads together and finds a way of making it work for them.


Last year I coached a business owner who was facing a huge decision within his business. He said that he had been over the situation again and again and could see no clear way forward. During that coaching session he went on to identify seven options that he had never even considered. The use of coaching questions can’t be underestimated; it is all about opening up the issues and exploring them fully. For me coaching is less about directing and more about offering a fresh pair of eyes to take a look through.