If you, as a small business owner, are, or have in the past, considered seeking outside help to address areas of your business that need improvement you should be aware this will create the need for change within your company and its success will depend on how you and your company most effectively implement change.
Business owners are constantly being approached with programs or people who claim to be able to help them better their business.
These include Mastermind Groups, University programs, Consultants, "Guns for Hire", Seminars, Coaches, etc.
Even when you come to the conclusion it is time to reach out for help you should be warned that it is not the time to make an investment with the "option of the day". They each provide solutions, but they each have different ways of delivering the solution.
As I said before, it must match the way you and your business/team accepts change and how you follow through and implement change.
To insure an investment like this will result in the desired outcome for you and your company, I suggest you take the time to answer certain questions before you even think about proceeding to take a look at the options in front of you.
To make it easier to answer these questions start by focusing on one issue or idea that you know would better your business.
Buying Decision Process
What is the #1 problem/issue holding your business back or the #1 new idea you need to implement to grow your company?
How are you currently set up to fix this problem or implement this idea with the current resources you've got in place?
Historically, how successful have you been in addressing issues and implementing new ideas? Why?
What's stopping you from using your current resources (inside and outside the business) to fix the problem or implement the idea?
Is there something further you'd want or need but aren't getting from your current resources?
Who would be the people affected by any solution that would address the problem or implement the idea?
How would they be affected by the changes your decision would create in the business and what role would they take in the process of addressing or implementing it?
What would you need to consider to insure that the people that are touched by this issue/problem/idea would be willing to get on board with new choices you might make?
What would you need to know or believe differently in order to be willing to add new processes, habits or best practices to the daily routines of your business?
How would you know when it was time to bring in an outside catalyst to help you focus on addressing this issue and/or implementing the new idea?
How would you measure the effectiveness and the ROI on an investment in an outside resource/solution?
Only after you have answered these questions, are you in a position to research the solutions and make a decision on the type of help you need, how and who will be involved, and how effective each program will be in your particular situation.
Do you want to learn new skills or do you prefer someone to just come in and give you a plan and leave? Do you need someone to be accountable to and work with you to implement, or can you learn and then return to your company and teach the team? Do you need to build the plan together for it to be effectively implemented or do you want someone to come into the company and just do it for you?
All these answers have to be considered to be able for you to invest in the right program for your situation.
I've seen a lot of time and money wasted by business owners who made decisions like this without considering the proper match between the right solution and their unique situation.
Seeking outside help is a strength, not a weakness. It can be the best investment you have ever made in your business, but it can also be very ineffective if you choose resources that do not deliver within the unique environment of your business culture.
Those of us in the business of "helping", understand that the success of our work will depend on the proper match between our method of help and the client. Thus, we have all referred prospective clients to other programs to ensure their success.
As a coach, I sustain and grow my business by referral and word of mouth and I want every engagement to be successful.
Don't Procrastinate
Don't let problems and ideas go unattended any longer, seeking help will ensure you address them, but answer these questions before you start to seek the right solutions.
I would be happy to explore this with you through a Complimentary Buying Decision Meeting (phone or in person). Together we can walk through these questions and ensure you know how to choose the right solution for your unique situation.
Rick Wallace is a Business Coach, Speaker and Writer who speaks to and works with 100's of small business owners each year and knows that the success of any betterment program requires a good fit between the program and the client's unique situation. Contact him at
rick@next-level-coaching.com and he will be happy to walk you through these questions and supply you with objective advice. See more resources at
www.next-level-coaching.com
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