Business Coaching with CBT
* Learn to Analyse Your Business
& Plan Change *
* Use CBT Techniques to Deal with Psychological, Emotional or Mental
Barriers to Effective Decision Making *
Small Business Coaching Service
As a life and business coach specialising in the use of CBT (cognitive behavioural techniques) I offer a unique business coaching service to clients which combines the practical business skills and analysis of traditional business coaching with the proven techniques of CBT for dealing with problematic thinking patterns and emotional or psychological stresses.
Who the Business Coaching with CBT Service is for
The service is ideal for anyone running a small business who feels that their business development is being impeded by their own anxieties, approach or difficulties in adopting a business mindset.
This might for example apply you if:
- You started a business because of your passion or interest in a particular line of work but you do not see yourself as a natural businessman or business woman or
- Fears or doubts about your own abilities to make business decisions are impeding your progress and you want a sensible sounding board for advice and to help you overcome fears or anxieties which are exaggerated or
- You have a tendency to let personal worries override actions which you know would make more business sense - for example, you avoid taking practical business decisions for fear of offending staff or creating confrontations or
- You find it difficult to turn down offers of new work even though that is creating undue stress for you or
- You run a creative or person-orientated business and find the practicalities, planning and organisational aspects of running your own business difficult to cope with without external support.
Business Coaching with CBT - The 2 Aspects
1. Traditional Business Coaching Elements
My credentials for helping you with traditional elements of business coaching are described below:
As a former commercial solicitor working in London, before I made the career change of becoming first a social worker then a life coach, I offer a professional background which equips me with an abilitiy to help analyse and deal with financial and business issues as well as providing the listening and practical motivational skills of a coach.
I have in the past done business-related work for large corporate clients such as British Airways and for charitable organisations such as Age Concern as well as having a wealth of experience in techniques for creating effective change and managing stresses for individuals. My business coaching services now focus mainly on helping small businesses to achieve better results as this is where the person-centred CBT aspects of the service I provide are particularly effective.
My professional experience and skills can help you to:
- Increase the Profits of your business by analysing income and expenditure and introducing effective strategies to maximise your resources, organise and plan your business.
- Receive Independent Feedback for your ideas and dilemmas and
- Make effective business decisions.
2. Business Coaching with CBT
CBT (or cognitive bevioural therapy) is a model for helping people which is built on the recognition that the way we think about events and situations influences how we feel about them and how we act.
CBT has been used very successfully to help people experiencing anxiety, depression and negative thoughts in a personal context. In business coaching it can be used with similar effect to help you deal with negative thoughts or distorted perceptions or anxieties which may be impeding your ability to think clearly or to act in the most business- like way.
Using CBT in a Business Settting
One simple way in which you could use a CBT technique in a business setting with the assistance of a business coach familiar with CBT techniques would be to:
- Describe a typical business situation where you might find yourself not acting in a way which is productive for your business
- Note down your thoughts, beliefs and feelings in the situation when the situation arises
- Describe how you then typically act (or fail to act)
- Make a note of the consequences of these actions and how you then feel.
Once you have done this you can explore in a coaching session what your options are at each stage for breaking the cycle and helping you to act in a way that is more productive for your business. We would consider:
- Actions that may help you to plan sensibly in advance for when the problem situation arises in future
- Things you can say to yourself or do when 'problem' thoughts arise to help put those thoughts in perspective or approach the situation more rationally and positively
- Actions you can take to break away from the problem thoughts and feelings or deal with them differently
- What you can do afterwards to help you feel better about the consequences and act more constructively in future if you make mistakes.
Using practical CBT techniques in business coaching helps you to:
- Sustain Motivation and focus your efforts most productively, through simple-to-learn motivational techniques and tools
- Deal with the Stresses that come from running a one or two person business, providing effective tools, techniques and services for managing stresses and making effective decisions
- Think in a Business-Like Manner, if you find yourself disorganised or diverted by personal or emotional concerns.
Testimonials from Small Business Clients
You can see below a selection of quotes from people who have experienced the benefits of the coaching that I provide for those who are running their own small business. Where requested, pseudonyms have been used to protect client confidentiality:
"Business is really booming..."
"Dear David
Business is really booming. I can't tell you how different things are now. This time last year it was pretty hard going and now I am so busy I can hardly think. I just finished three great days at the Specialty Fine Food Fair at Olympia. Everyone loved the tea and I got lots of interest from shops, deli's, restaurants, distributors and department stores.
I did some newspaper interviews and it felt great to be part of a good news story.
All in all, things are excellent. It's all thanks to you, of course!
Best wishes
Henrietta"
Note: Henrietta Lovell is a UK business entrepreneur (website: www.rareteacompany.com) based in London who gave up a professional career in order to follow her dream and start her own business. She now runs a successful and innovative company providing specialist fine teas available through the internet and she has featured in national media.
"I now see business coaching as a vital part of business development..."
"I started having business coaching sessions because I wanted to get an overview of my business from an external point of view. I have never used external help before, but I now see business coaching as a vital part of business development.
The coaching was helpful to me in helping me to:
- Introduce management systems to track income and expenditure by customer
- Highlighting areas of skills training that needed to be addressed
- Helping focus my thoughts on exactly what I need to do to achieve my goals." - Martin, Bath, UK
"David sees to the heart of the matter, is supportive and encouraging..."
"Since working with David I have been able to take the time to define my goals and start to work towards them. I really needed to talk things through with someone else and he has been great. Breaking things down into achievable steps has been very useful. In all areas things have improved. I've designed my website, obtained some work, started socializing more, am now exercising and am generally more hopeful and focused.
David sees to the heart of the matter, is supportive and encouraging. His patience, his willingness to help me stick with the programme and his ability to help me progress have been really helpful. His background as a social worker and lawyer is a great combination because he has great listening skills and compassion, allied with an understanding of how it is to make one's way in the world of business." Maria, East Coast, USA
Note: Maria [pseudonym used at request of client] runs a business as an ordained interfaith minister providing bespoke ceremonies including baby blessing, funeral and memorial services for people from different religious traditions or none. She sought help from coaching to grow and develop her business in a proactive and structured way.
"I feel lighter and more in control..."
"Since starting the coaching, I feel lighter and more in control. In a better position to make choices... I feel I'm offering my clients a good service...I enjoy life more. I worry less." Claire, London, UK
Note: Claire Lakey runs a unique business providing high quality landscaping and garden design solutions within urban environments. She sought help from coaching to improve her organisational time management skills and business analysis, as well as to reinforce her motivation and achieve life balance.
"David's coaching has given me tools with which to take control of my life and move forward..."
"Before the coaching sessions I had far too much work to deal with and consequently turned off and couldn't cope...I was just 'fire fighting' from one day to the next...Now I am a lot more in control of my life and have started to enjoy everyday things which I have ignored for so long. Other people have noticed a change in me and I can see that I am valued by my clients. With a reduced workload I am able also to enjoy completing existing work.
Through the controlled coaching sessions I have been able to say 'no' to any future work and gradually reduce my workload. At the same time, the introduction of an action programme to help balance the work has given me a better lifestyle which is much healthier all round...David's coaching has given me tools with which to take control of my life and move forward. By using his constructive exercises I have been suprised and then delighted by how much difference they have made. Ideas, thoughts and feelings which had been suppressed have gradually come back and given me confidence that I can achieve my dreams." Sylvia, Home Counties, UK
Note: Sylvia Kus is a successful architect who prior to coaching sessions was already running a business as a self employed architect but was experiencing high pressures in work and wanting to branch out into more innovative developmental ambitious architectural projects meeting her own creative needs. The coaching sessions gave her techniques, tools and the confidence and belief in her own ability to start the transition.
"David's recommendations were realistic and balanced"
"David's recommendations were realistic and balanced, providing encouragement where appropriate and highlighting issues of importance to me. His analysis and observations were perceptive and he was thoroughly professional." Anna, Surrey, UK
Note: Anna [pseudonym used at request of client] is a self-employed lawyer who took advantage of a special offer of a one-off assessment session to provide the impetus for future personal and professional development.
Business Coaching Sessions
Business coaching sessions are conducted on the telephone with clients phoning me at an agreed time (on a weekday) when I guarantee to make myself available. For clients living or working in Bath, Bristol or South Gloucestershire, face to face sessions may be possible by arrangement for an additional fee.
Sessions usually last for 1 hour although a different time frame can be agreed where appropriate. We use the coaching sessions to discuss the issues with which you want help, agree a way forward to tackle any difficulties and set and implement goals. We can draw up a Project Plan to address the particular issues that are important to you.
Before most sessions I will give
you exercises to help you tackle the particular issues that are most
important to you and to focus your insight on where you need to go.
At the end of each coaching session we will agree specific actions
for you to take before the next session, to implement any plans you
have made. The focus of the sessions is very practical.