Do You Have the Right Support Team Around You?

As an entrepreneurial business leader, there is always so much to do, so many issues to solve and generally never enough time. Markets change quickly and there is the constant need to think and act strategically yet ensure the day to day operations are performing well. Ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the business sits with the leader and this overall combination of factors makes the role of entrepreneurial business leader exciting, yet sometimes challenging.

One of the most important jobs of the leaders in any business is to build the teams within the business and ensure they are fully engaged and committed, have the right skills and capabilities and are performing at a high level. But it is also important leaders have the right support from outside of the business.

This definitely includes the right specialist professional advisors such as lawyers and accountants. But it can also include the support of coaches and mentors. Coaches can help leaders find solutions to difficult issues, provide some different perspectives and support leaders in their decision making. Mentors can provide an experienced external view, give sound advice and discuss ideas and options. The roles are not necessarily distinct, but the support of trusted, independent external advisors can bring great benefit to leaders.

To be successful, there has to be a good fit and understanding with the coach or mentor. In general, we work best with people who we feel understand us and who we can relate to. Trust is critical as is the personal commitment of the coach to leader. And there must be the experience, diversity of perspective and the coaching skills to ensure that the guidance and support really does help the leader resolve issues and move forwards.

There are also times when different types of support and experiences might be most beneficial. From encouraging to challenging, from periods of stability through to periods of rapid change, different coaching styles and advisor experiences might best support the leader. Much like top performing sports people might bring in different coaches to help them achieve their next set of goals or improve certain aspects of their performance, entrepreneurial business leaders can build a support team around them to help them through their challenges and lead their business to ongoing success.

And so for entrepreneurial leaders, it is worth considering the benefits of support from external coaches and mentors. And then regularly reviewing the type of support that is most effective at any given time. In todays’s challenging business world, having the right trusted advisors who are committed to your success can make a significant difference.