Are you looking for a coach to support you in growing your pet business?
Working for yourself can be hard, and having a coach means that you have someone in your corner to support and guide you.
Like dog training, the coaching industry is unregulated, and there are lots of different kinds of coaches you can turn to.
In this podcast episode and blog, I’m exploring three different approaches to coaching you can choose from, so you can figure out which best suits you.
You can listen in on the player link below or read the key points covered in the blog.
Coaching versus mentoring – what’s the difference?
These definitions are taken from Excellence in Coaching by Jonathan Passmore.
Coaching: “The focus of coaching is about enhancing performance. In this sense, executive and personal coaching are similar to sports coaching. As a result, a key feature of coaching is behaviour, supported by cognition and motivation.”
Mentoring: “Mentoring, while having similarities to coaching, is fundamentally different. A mentor has experience in a particular field and imparts specific knowledge, acting as adviser, counsellor, guide, or teacher. In contrast, the coach’s role is not to advise but to assist coachees in uncovering their own knowledge and skills and to facilitate coachees in becoming their own advisers.”
This is a simple comparison using driving a car as a metaphor:
- A mentor will share tips from his or her own experience of driving cars.
- A coach will encourage and support you in driving a car.
Three types of coaches in the pet business space
Currently, I see three different types of ‘coaches’ in the pet business space:
The ‘my way’ coach/mentor:
This is someone who has run a pet business and has experienced the challenges.
They will use what they’ve learned and impart that advice and experience to others.
Most likely to say, ‘This is what you need to do to get to where I am.’
Pros:
Direct, actionable advice based on real experience.
Proven strategies that have worked for them.
Cons:
May not account for your unique circumstances.
Can feel prescriptive and rigid.
The ‘my system’ coach/mentor:
They may not have industry experience and instead have a background in marketing/social media/SEO/systems. They will have a specific system that people who sign up with them are expected to follow.
Most likely to say, ‘Follow my system to achieve (desired outcome).’
Pros:
Structured approach with clear steps to follow.
Often comes with comprehensive resources and support.
Cons:
One-size-fits-all approach may not suit everyone.
Lack of industry-specific experience can be a drawback.
The ‘coach’ coach/mentor:
They may or may not have industry experience and will have a person-centred approach, tailoring their support to the needs of the individual, helping them find their own way.
Most likely to say, ‘What would you like to have happen and what will you do?’
Pros:
Personalised approach tailored to your specific needs.
Empowers you to develop your own solutions and strategies.
Cons:
May take longer to see results.
Can feel less structured and more open-ended.
Choosing the right coaching style for you
There’s no right or wrong, and I’ve invested in all three types of coaching listed here, learned a lot, and spent a fortune too.
I’m sharing this as something to consider if you are looking for coaching, and to identify which one of the three types the coach fits into.
Because if you’re looking for option 3 and you’re working with option 1, it’s not going to work, and vice versa.
Likewise, if you want option 2 but you’re working with option 3, you’re going to be frustrated.
I’d love to know your thoughts and experience on this, and what you think people need right now in the crazy world we live in.
Are you fed up of being told what to do?
You’re an adult, and you run your own business, probably because you left your old job and life due to being fed up with taking orders.
When you look online, it’s full of ‘5 mistakes you’re making’, ‘you need to do this’, ‘the 3-step formula to…’, and it feels like you’re being told what to do wherever you turn, doesn’t it?
The thing you might have tried to escape from is what you’ve inadvertently run into.
This came up in two conversations I had recently – one with a one-to-one client about coaching, who said she’d worked with many coaches but had never been ‘coached’ until working with me.
And another with someone who runs a community supporting ethical pet professionals, who shared his concern about ‘aggressive approaches’ in the coaching space that aren’t just unhelpful but can be damaging.
Let’s chat!
If you’re fed up with being told what to do and are looking for the approach in option 3, this is how I work. Book a free call with me, and let’s see if we’re a good fit.
Further listening/reading
Why I trained as an accredited coach and what that means for your pet business
Is my Pets Get Visible membership right for you?
Navigating the rollercoaster of running a pet business
