Solve your business dilemmas

Manage workplace issues with the support of a coach

Coaching can make all the difference in company procedures.

As a business owner or manager, you know there are critical issues you need to deal with that will make huge differences to your company, but somehow they get put on the back burner in the face of day-to-day demands.

For many business owners and managers there are few opportunities to remove themselves from the pressurized daily operations of their business. Often business staff can feel stuck; not sure what move to make next or how to get the process moving again. The result? A pile-up in productivity.

What if there was an environment where key members of a business could explore ideas, focus on problem solving, access resources and improve business productivity?

A fresh approach

While owners and managers know their businesses better than anyone, often all that is needed is a fresh pair of eyes to help navigate through the issues and accelerate them along the path to success.

The Kootenay Association for Science and Technology (KAST), along with the Kootenay Rockies Innovation Council (KRIC) have heard this need from the business community and responded with an innovative business coaching and consulting service to help ensure the need is met.

Business coaching is commonplace around the world and in most cases a high price is paid for the service based on its proven track record of providing excellent return on investment. Through KAST and KRIC’s partnership, this service is now being offered free of charge to innovative businesses throughout the region.

Business coaching presents the opportunity to be paired up with an impartial and private coach. Based on the individual needs of each business, KAST and KRIC will draw from their impressive list of contacts and select the best match for each participant. The client is in charge of the focus and goals of the meeting. It could be working through a barrier in business operations, problem solving human resource challenges or vetting ideas. In short; anything valuable in a business process is fair game. The coach works with the client—whether that is the owner or staff—to explore root issues, define goals, create an action plan and produce measurable steps to achieving said goals. Regardless of the stage of your business, coaching is ideal for business owners, managers and staff alike.

How does it happen?

In a business coaching session the client determines the core issues, develops the next steps and gains resources. The coach is there to support this progress, with the simple goal of helping the participant on their established goals. Participants ultimately emerge with a plan that they believe in and the steps to make it happen.

Amber Hayes, out of Rossland, has been co-ordinating the program that has already been achieving excellent results.

"The program has provided an outstanding mixture of warmth and professionalism in their service and support for Mandala Custom Homes,” commented Rachel Ross of Mandala Custom Homes. “Amber is outstanding in her 'geekdom,' her tips and tricks for all things technical, and her unique ability to think outside of the box. We have benefited greatly from her proactive style and the way she makes connections in the Kootenay business world. Hats off to KAST and especially to Amber!"

An added bonus of coaching is the learning that comes from the process. Not only is a goal attained but the tools used can be applied over and over again, adding to the capacity of the organization.

If you’re feeling stuck, bogged down with the day-to-day requirements and are looking for that next “aha!” moment to take your business to the next level, business coaching may just be the answer you’ve been looking for.

If you would like to experience the benefits of business coaching or consulting, contact KAST.com in the West Kootenays or KRIC.ca in the East Kootenays to find out more.

Also be sure to check the lively discussion on the Kootenay Business Magazine LinkedIn group for more discussion about business coaching.

Sponsored by: NRC IRAP