As a business coach, it is your job to teach small to medium sized business owners and their employees how to run successful and profitable businesses. There are many ways you can do this. You can lecture, handout reading materials, or do fun training exercises. All are great, but fun exercises are sure to catch your eye. Do understand however, that they have pros and cons.

The Pros of Fun Training Exercises

They can easily hold the concentration of group members. People love fun. What people hate is listing to lectures and reading training materials. These are very boring. No one wants to spend their day stuck in an office chair. By developing fun and interactive exercises, you get the attention of group members. They are listing to what you say and watching what happens. They aren’t staring off into space.

They allow you to accomplish two goals. That is the task at hand, such as improving office organization, and teamwork. Most activities entail thinking and working together as a team. Consider it a two for one deal. You work on improving and show the importance of office teamwork, while also focusing on other important components of running a business, such as sales, marketing, and workplace communication.

They get workers to lighten and loosen up. Most employees dread training sessions. They think they are boring and there are concerns if supervisors are present. What if the wrong thing is said? Fun and interactive exercise allow workers to loose. They should partake more in discussions at the end of the session. For example, lecture on the importance of workplace conflict and then ask the audience to share tips. You will get a few responses. On the other hand, have two workers act out a conflict. Then, request the audience to share what the volunteers did right and wrong. What the hands fly in the air.

They are easy to plan. To plan fun and interactive training exercise, use nothing more than your creativity. You may be astonished how many ideas come to you. For example, you can create a game based on the show Family Feud. Divide the room into two groups. Ask team members questions and they must come up with the excellent five answers, such as how to evade workplace conflict or how to peacefully resolve it.

The Cons of Enjoyable Training Exercises

It is easy to get off track. As for why interactive training exercises work, they are enjoyable. Unluckily, fun doesn’t always translate into good. A group of volunteers role-playing workplace conflict may start to goof off. This can fill the room with plenty of laughter and jokes, but what about the task? If you find your audience or group getting off track, restate the importance. In fact, mention they need to take the exercises seriously or you will resort to a lecture style teaching.

Your client, the business owner, may not like the approach. Most business coaches work one-on-one with a business owner or operating manager before training the entire team. If you intend to utilize fun and interactive training exercises, state so before hand. The last thing you want is to see a disapproving manger in the back. Explicate the benefits of these exercising, including teamwork and attention hold, and then give a few examples.

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If you run a business coaching service, it is your job to coach new and struggling business owners to make the right choices. You are just like a football coach. You give your clients plays and encourage them to run the plays properly. One aspect of business that you should cover is marketing, namely internet marketing. Even storefront businesses can benefit from internet marketing. Many just do not know why they should invest time and money into the effort or how to get started. It is your job to give them ideas.

In terms of internet marketing, there are many options. Internet marketing presents much opportunity, both large and small. All businesses can and should utilize the internet. As previously stated, some just don’t know how to. So, make a game plan for your clients or their advertising department to follow. What could that plan include?

Blogging. Many individuals make the mistake of believing blogs are for personal use only. They are not. Blogs can also be utilized as successful Internet marketing tools. Blogs rely on content, so your client or one of their workers will need to do this task, but it must only take less than 30 minutes a day. They can write content related to the products or services they sell. For example, someone running a dog grooming business can write articles on anything pet related, including care and health. That blog can and should lead back to their business website.

Conducting contests. People love complimentary stuff and contests give them the chance to win. It is, however, important to proceed with caution. If your client posts a contest on their website, they will acquire those who fill out the entry form a leave. Utilize a blog and have a monthly newsletter or RSS feed available. Instruct your client to allow for an extra entry for anyone who subscribes to these. They obtain daily or weekly updates, always reminding them about the business and the goods or services offered.

Online business directories. In terms of internet marketing, one of the first places business owners should head to is online business directories, but most make it their last stop. Fewer Americans turn to their phone books to get a business. They perform standard internet searches and use online business directories, such as the one offered under the “Local,” heading at Yahoo.com. If your client is not listed in these directories, convince them to do so and right away. The process should only take a few minutes.

Online message boards. For most business proprietors, online message boards are nothing but a waste of time. They don’t want to see their employees socializing online while on the clock. Yes, this is good, but encourage your client to see the marketing aspect. For example, companies who sell pet related products and services should participate in discussions on pet related forums. Include a link back to the company website in all allowable signatures and profiles. When posting, the name and link will appear. Pet owners are this company’s aimed market. They aren’t waiting for the customers to come to them. Instead, they are going directly to the source.

Banner and link exchanges. Online networking is just as important as internet marketing. There are many connections to be made online and these connections can lead to increased advertising. To get started, persuade your client to network with those in related fields. They can make link and banner exchanges. For instance, if your client sells pet products, coach them through getting pet services, such as dog grooming or dog sitting. Instruct them to contact the owner of the website and offer a banner or link exchange. In these aspects, both companies benefit and advertising is free.

As you can see, there are many ways to advertise a business online. Your job is to coach your clients during the process. Carefully monitor each step and offer feedback.

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If you want to offer your services as a business coach, there many areas of business that you need to familiarize yourself with. After all, if you don’t know the keys to running a successful business, how can you teach others?

As previously stated, there are lots of areas of running a business that new and struggling business owners need help with. One of those areas is business communication. Business owners need to learn to properly communicate with employees and clients. Employees need to learn how to communicate with their bosses, coworkers, and clients. It goes continuously. Proper communication is key to running a successful and profitable business.

So, what will you, as a business coach, need to teach your clients?

The best means to communicate. Technology has given us many ways to communicate with friends, family, coworkers, clients, and employees. Just a sample of the options available includes letters, faxes, emails, text messages, and phone calls. Which option is best? It depends on the type of business. Other than emergencies, all professionals should evade text messages. Instead, they should pickup the phone, send a fax, or write a well-composed email.

Communication etiquette. This is essential for both communication with coworkers and clients. Some inexperienced employees and business owners do not completely understand the importance of politeness and etiquette. You need to show them. For instance, it is all right to use abbreviations in personal emails, like BRB or LOL, but never with business communications. In emails, all writers should identify themselves by name and position and address all recipients the same. It is the courteous and professional thing to do.

Tips for improving writing skills. Unluckily, all of our writing skills have suffered. The internet, instant messaging programs, and text messages make it particularly hard to write by hand and legibly. Your job as a business coach is to stress the importance of proper writing. Highlight the importance of proper spelling, grammar, proofreading, and good sentence structure.

The importance of clear communication. In business, straightforward directions and little rambling is best. You client’s customers don’t want to know about the day they are having or what the climate is like; they like to know if you can help them. A good approach is to find former letters and emails and dissect them. Show, by example, if it is good or bad and what changes can be made.

Providing both bad and good news. Business proprietors, rarely deliver only good news. For instance, a retail store may have processed an order for a client, only to later learn that item is unavailable. They must then contact that customer to tell them that their order cannot be filled. Some just say “your order cannot be filled.” Stress the importance of keeping that customer happy. In this situation, a formal apology, notification of when the item becomes available, and a small discount is best.

The importance of listening. Business owners and their employees should never make a client repeat him or herself. The same is true for other in-office communication. Coworkers and bosses should only need to ask someone to do a task once. Stress the importance of taking notes. There is less risk of errors and no having to ask someone to explain themselves again.

Non-verbal communication. A lot of business concentration is placed on the word we speak or type, but communication can be non-verbal too. This comprises body language, appearance, and actions. When meeting with a client, conservative apparel sends the proper message. Soft, but confident tones are best. As for body language, this is difficult. Others send signals without even realizing it. Stress the importance of monitoring your body language and learning to control impulsive actions.

These are just a few of the communication areas you will want to focus on as a business coach. Regardless of who are you working with, whether it be a business owner, paid employees, or both, all business can benefit and profit from good and proper communication.

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