I just came back from three days cycling C2C from Whitehaven to Tynemouth and, as is often the case when I undertake these arduous cycle rides, I got to thinking about business.

And it struck me that riding C2C across windswept moorlands, up tortuous lakeland hills and through boggy paths is somewhat like running a business! It’s a challenging, long hard slog that makes you question why you started in the first place!

There are the stiff legs, the aching backside, the tense shoulders. There’s the soggy gear, muddy bike and dog-eared maps.

But then there are the sweeping downhills, the lingering lunches at pubs, the sun breaking through the clouds and, of course, that terrific sense of achievement when you hit another milestone.

It’s living and being and doing.

And I think the role of a small business coach is to be there on that ride. To help your clients through the tough stages whilst keeping an eye on the good stuff to come.

To pursue the cycling analogy, it’s helping the client find themselves on the map so they can measure their progress, it’s making sure they’re on the right bike and that it’s oiled and ready to go, it’s cycling alongside and encouraging them to make those last strenuous efforts to reach the top.

And it’s celebrating when the downhill comes and the client can fly with the wind in their hair and a feeling of elation. It’s being there when the client hits the end and say, “What next?” with a tired but joyful smile on their face!

That’s the joy of business coaching.

Take a step back to move forward

Small business owners can be heard to complain of many things: lack of time, poor sales, low revenue, high costs, too much to do, business rates, flagging economy. You name it and there’s a good chance to you’ll hear it.

But there’s one thing a business owner can never truly complain about.  Their essential role in the success or failure of their business.

You see, in the end, every business owner, when confronted by their ability to make a difference in their results, even in tough times, knows they can do something a little better, a little more efficiently, a little more smartly.

The problem is business owners often forget!

They get so lost in the day to day workings of their business that they forget they have the ability to step back and think, plan and, yes, even dream!

As a business coach, one of the greatest benefits you bring tomyour client is the space to breathe.  The space to think afresh.  The space to take control of their outcomes.

So when it comes to moving forward, take a step back first.