Coaching is a growing market and a great way to make a business but as with any business, you have to enjoy it and be passionate about it to make it a success If you can relate to one or more of these reasons than maybe a coaching career is for you

There can be great benefits to continuous personal development and using a coach can be part of your programme If you are a coach then it doesn't stop here and there are a number of very good reasons why coaches should also continue to develop themselves

One of the foundation philosphies of coaching is the GROW model and it works really well however an experience coach will advise you that this is only one way of skinning a cat and how important it is not to allow your values and beliefs to become stifled by one way of thinking When I first started out as a coach I came armed with one model (GROW) with a set of principles I had adopted which reflected my own approach to coaching

Business networking seminars and workshops are big business and with so many organisations getting in on the act it's important to understand what to expect so that you don't waste your money Perhaps you are considering attending a business networking seminar – maybe you want to lean more about how to network effectively, maybe you want to develop your business networking skills and confidence or perhaps you see it as a great opportunity simply to network with others

Work-life balance is very much an ‘in’ phrase and if you are like most people you would probably say you would like a better one But what do we mean by ‘work-life balance’ and do we really want one

When I first set up my coaching business I remember only too well at networking events the thoughts and feelings which would frequently enter my mind when yet another coach appeared on the scene: 'oh no not more competition', 'but surely they can't be as good as me' ' I better keep my distance because they won't be interested in me (and vice versa) and 'I better make my mark here just to prove I am better than them'

I have a thriving coaching business and feel fortunate that I receive all my business either by referral or through doing what I like doing best…networking I never find myself forced into doing a sales pitch, stuffing enveloped with endless direct mail letters or cold-calling on unreceptive companies

So you want to get more referrals when you attend networking meetings From running business networking groups over the last few of years I have observed how the best networkers get the referrals they are looking for and how even good networkers fail on this front

Business networking organisations come in all shapes and forms and as communication becomes easier so worldwide barriers are broken down and it is now possible to network with people across the globe But it is easy to get carried away thinking that the wider the network (geographically) the better when perhaps this isn’t the best approach

Imagine the following scenarios… You walk into a networking event for the first time and you find that what you are wearing is totally different from everyone else in the room How do you feel

There are many business networking events on the market for you to join but if you were to join all of them you would end up parting with a serious amount of cash you probably never do anything else It is however just like any other business investment and you can mitigate the risk by weighing up your options carefully

Have you ever been to a networking event and asked someone, much to your regret what they do, and half an hour later you are still standing there nodding your head feigning interest and wondering why you even bothered getting out of bed It has happened to us all…but the trick is not to be one of those offenders ourselves

So, you want to become a coach One thing you may be thinking about is what area you specialise in

With the current economic climate and the prospect of challenging times ahead as a small business you may be looking to answer the following questions: · How are you going to bring in the business you are looking for · What other opportunities should you be seeking out

Business networking is increasingly recognised as an effective and efficient way of developing your business By meeting up with other business people and developing relationships with them you can start to tap into their networks, expand your contacts and increase the amount of business you gain from personal recommendation

Have you ever been to a speed dating event If you have you’ll understand the concept of speed networking

Think about the last time you purchased something for your business Many purchases are commodities these days in that you can get the same thing or a similar thing almost anywhere

If you’re starting up a new business, one of the key skills that you have to learn is about selling yourself and your services but to most people this doesn’t come naturally Many folks feel uncomfortable in these situations especially when dealing with strangers and it gets to the point where you are continually looking to find the next line to keep the conversation going rather than focusing on the subject matter of the conversation

When you start up a new business you will no doubt prepare a business plan and you do this not just to get a loan from the bank but because it truly adds value to understanding the viability of your business venture Well, that’s what should be happening anyway

Do you go out of your way to avoid business networking meetings Do you tell yourself that networking doesn't work for you

When you have been out at a networking event have you ever been so wrapped up in what you have to say and concentrating on promoting your business that that you have stopped listening and miss valuable opportunities Or have you found yourself making quick judgments about people which have closed your mind to what they are saying or, do you find yourself in fear of competition so avoid talking to those whose businesses are similar to your own

Networking is a powerful way of building professional relationships and generating new business opportunities It is a reciprocal process based on the exchange of ideas, advice, contact and referrals